Department for Transport

Railway Stations: Disability

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has recently (a) sought and (b) received representations on the effect on disabled passengers of de-staffing railway stations.

Andrew Jones: With growing passenger numbers, the Department wants to see more not fewer staff on the railway. Train operating company employees have increased by 20% from 49,000 to 59,000 between 2010-11 and 2017-18.We believe that train operators themselves are best placed to determine how staff are deployed to best to meet the needs of their passengers. We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders such as the Rail Delivery Group who is the custodian of the Passenger Assist reservation scheme to discuss issues that will make the rail network more accessible.

Train Operating Companies: Regulation

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the economic regulation by his Department of train operating companies.

Andrew Jones: Train operating companies are held to account by the Department for Transport under the terms of their franchise agreements. The competitive franchising process is designed to ensure value for money for passengers and taxpayers alike. The Office of Rail and Road regulates train operating companies in respect of their safety obligations, as well as certain consumer-facing duties such as the provision of information to passengers during disruption and the protection of the interests of passengers with disabilities. The ongoing root and branch review of the railway led by Keith Williams is in the process of examining all aspects of the industry’s structure, which encompasses future regulatory and contractual arrangements. This review will report in the Autumn.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to 40 per cent of new tube train Siemens planned to built in Vienna, what support the Government is providing to UK companies to help ensure rolling stock for High Speed Two is built in the UK.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that High Speed Two trains will be built in the UK and be created using a UK Supply Chain.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the UK Government has written UK Content into the High Speed Two contract.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The procurement of the new HS2 Phase One fleet is being undertaken in accordance with the Utilities Contract Regulations 2016. The regulations require all tenderers be treated equally on a non-discriminatory basis. This means that HS2 cannot mandate that the design and manufacture of the new fleet should be undertaken in the UK. This also means that HS2 cannot reward, in its procurement scoring mechanism, UK or regional content over non-UK content. However, the Utilities Contract Regulations do include a scoring mechanism that assesses each Tenderer’s plans for developing skills, education and employment opportunities and promoting supply chain opportunities through the supply and maintenance of the new trains. All parties invited to tender are required to make clear in their proposal how the manufacture and maintenance of the rolling stock will add value to the UK economy and contribute to the delivery of the HS2 programme strategic goals. All such commitments made will be included in the contract with the winning bidder. To support UK suppliers HS2 will ensure they are fully aware of specific opportunities through the contract opportunities table published on its website, through targeted ‘meet the contractor’ events and through regular engagement. To date, this approach has ensured that over 99% of direct and indirect HS2 awarded contracts have been to UK based organisations, over 70% of which are SMEs. The procurement you refer to for the supply of new Piccadilly line trains from Siemens Mobility Limited was conducted by London Underground Limited (a subsidiary of Transport for London).

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons Government tendering can write UK Content or GVA into public procurement but cannot do so for rolling stock contracts; and whether he has any plans to change policy in this area.

Andrew Jones: Rolling stock procurement is undertaken through fair and open competition, usually by train operators as part of their franchise commitments. Such procurements must be undertaken in line with the relevant procurement regulations in force at the time.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) direct and (b) indirect economic effects of rolling-stock manufacturing in the North East on that region.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) direct and (b) in-direct economic benefits of rolling stock contracts in the North East.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) direct and (b) in-direct benefits rolling stock manufacturing in the North East has on (i) the UK rail supply chain and (ii) the North East regional economy.

Andrew Jones: The Government welcomes the investment in the UK through the awarding of rolling stock contracts to UK based manufacturers. Rolling stock procurement is undertaken through fair and open competition, usually by train operators as part of their franchise commitments. The Department has not made such assessments on the benefits or effects of rolling stock manufacturing.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the provision of rolling stock contracts to UK suppliers on train factories in the UK.

Andrew Jones: The Government welcomes the investment in the UK through the awarding of rolling stock contracts to UK based manufacturers. Rolling stock procurement is undertaken through fair and open competition, usually by train operators as part of their franchise commitments. The Department has not made such assessments on rolling stock contracts.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how (a) gross value added and (b) wider economic benefit is assessed in the awarding of rolling stock contracts; and what weighting those two things are given in the tender or awarding process.

Andrew Jones: Rolling stock procurement is undertaken through fair and open competition, usually by train operators as part of their franchise commitments.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons Government tendering can write UK Content or GVA into public procurement contracts but cannot do so for rolling stock contracts; and whether he has any plans to change policy in this area.

Andrew Jones: Rolling stock procurement is undertaken through fair and open competition, usually by train operators as part of their franchise commitments. Such procurements must be undertaken in line with the relevant procurement regulations in force at the time.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that High Speed Two trains will be built in the UK and be created using a UK Supply Chain.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has written UK Content into the HS2 contract to ensure that High Speed Two will be a catalyst for sustained and balanced economic growth across the UK.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department had information that 40 per cent of new tube train Siemens is planning to build will be in Vienna; and whether the Government has made an assessment (a) whether some of the High Speed Two rolling stock could be built outside of the UK and (b) the potential effect of that on the benefits accrued for UK Plc.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The procurement of the new HS2 Phase One fleet is being undertaken in accordance with the Utilities Contract Regulations 2016. The regulations require all tenderers be treated equally on a non-discriminatory basis. This means that HS2 cannot mandate that the design and manufacture of the new fleet should be undertaken in the UK. This also means that HS2 cannot reward, in its procurement scoring mechanism, UK or regional content over non-UK content. However, the Utilities Contract Regulations do include a scoring mechanism that assesses each Tenderer’s plans for developing skills, education and employment opportunities and promoting supply chain opportunities through the supply and maintenance of the new trains. All parties invited to tender are required to make clear in their proposal how the manufacture and maintenance of the rolling stock will add value to the UK economy and contribute to the delivery of the HS2 programme strategic goals. All such commitments made will be included in the contract with the winning bidder. HS2 cannot mandate that the design and manufacture of the new fleet should be undertaken in the UK. However, the procurement has the potential to realise many benefits for the UK, for example a ‘supply chain mapping’ exercise conducted by HS2 identified over 270 potential tier 2 and 3 rolling stock suppliers, over 70% of which are UK-based. The procurement you refer to for the supply of new Piccadilly line trains from Siemens Mobility Limited was conducted by London Underground Limited (a subsidiary of Transport for London).

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has received a supply chain development plan from Siemens or Talgo as part of their commitment to build new train factories.

Andrew Jones: The Department has not received a supply chain development plan from either manufacturer. However, Talgo has made a commitment that it will create five jobs in the supply chain for every job it creates in its UK facility should it be successful in winning manufacturing contracts. Siemens expects to indirectly create 1,700 jobs in the supply chain through its UK facility.

Railways: Standards

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has he made of the effect of the changes to the proposed accountability of routes and regions within Network Rail from June 2019 on that organisation’s ability to deliver its Control Period 6 efficiency plans between 2019 and 2020.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport welcomes Network Rail’s Putting Passengers First programme and Andrew Haines’ commitment to ensuring that rail works for passengers and freight customers. The Department is continuing to engage with Network Rail as they implement the programme.The Office of Rail and Road has a statutory responsibility for monitoring Network Rail’s performance. It is actively monitoring the effectiveness of Network Rail’s efficiency and delivery as we move into the crucial early months of Control Period 6 (2019-24).

Heathrow Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications for public service obligations he has received from regional airports for routes into Heathrow.

Jesse Norman: One application for a Public Service Obligation from Newquay to London Heathrow was received. This is the route which is now operating. As set out in the Department’s guidance on protecting air routes to London, a Local Authority or Devolved Administration is required to consider bids to an airport with a rail link of less than 60 minutes to London Travel Zone 1, which includes Heathrow Airport.

Newquay Cornwall Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what process was followed in awarding a public service obligation for the Newquay to Heathrow route.

Jesse Norman: The Department has published guidance on its website, setting out the process a Local Authority or Devolved Administration is required to undertake in order to seek support for a Public Service Obligation.In line with this guidance, Cornwall Council ran a competitive tender process for airlines to bid to operate the route. The Invitation to Tender documents were published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Cornwall Council then submitted their preferred bid and request for funding to the Department for Transport. The Department then carried out a full business case assessment of the funding request.

Newquay Cornwall Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the £3.5m Public Service Obligation for the Newquay to Heathrow route will be met by (a) his Department and (b) Cornwall Council.

Jesse Norman: The agreement between the Department for Transport and Cornwall Council is for an equal share in funding. Therefore the Department will provide a maximum of £1,691,647 in support for the Public Service Obligation between Newquay and London Heathrow over 4 years from 2018/19 to 2022/23.

Newquay Cornwall Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of transferring the public service obligation for the Newquay to Gatwick route to Heathrow.

Jesse Norman: A full business case and commercial viability assessment was undertaken for both the Gatwick and Heathrow options against the counterfactual of no air route between Newquay and London.

Newquay Cornwall Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the commercial viability of the Newquay to Heathrow route.

Jesse Norman: The UK Government conducted a commercial viability assessment as part of the business case for the route. This showed that it was unlikely the route would be offered at an adequate level of service in the absence of financial support.

Newquay Cornwall Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the potential proportion of passenger load factor on the Newquay to Heathrow route.

Jesse Norman: The Public Service Obligation tender process required airlines to submit passenger forecasts. This information was provided in confidence. However, the previous Public Service Obligation service between Newquay and Gatwick had an average load factor over the four years of 74%.

Newquay Cornwall Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to allocate funds to improve public transport access to Newquay airport.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s Aviation Strategy 2050 consultation document, launched in December 2018, recognises airports as important multi-modal transport hubs. The provision and funding of surface access infrastructure and services to airports are primarily the responsibility of the airport operator, but where there are significant non-airport user benefits from changes and enhancements to the infrastructure and services there may be a case for support from Government.A combined process for investment planning which could include further improvements for access to Newquay airport is currently under way. Sub-national Transport Bodies (STB) or regional groupings are responsible for working with local partners, including local authorities and MPs, to make the case for funding particular improvements as part of the Major Road Network or Large Local Majors programme. The Department expects that STBs will submit their prioritised schemes for consideration by July 2019.

Newquay Cornwall Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what financial contribution Heathrow Airport has provided to support the Newquay to Heathrow route.

Jesse Norman: Heathrow Airport does not make a direct financial contribution to the Newquay to Heathrow Public Service Obligation. However, passengers travelling to Newquay from Heathrow benefit from a £15 discount on airport charges offered by the airport on all domestic flights.

Regional Airports: Public Service Obligations

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average cost is of a Public Service Obligation for a route from regional airports.

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the annual cost to the public purse is of public service obligations to regional airports.

Jesse Norman: The UK Government currently funds three PSOs into London from Londonderry, Dundee and Newquay. In addition, the Welsh Government funds a PSO from Anglesey to Cardiff, and the Scottish Government funds a further eighteen PSOs. The total annual subsidy in 2017 for these routes was £10,564,194. The average annual cost of these PSOs in 2017 was £480,191.

Regional Airports

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings he has had with hon. Members representing regional airports in the last 12 months on such airports.

Jesse Norman: The Secretary of State and the Aviation Minister meet regularly with Honourable Members who have concerns or proposals regarding UK regional airports.

Heathrow Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the additional number of people will be overflown by aircraft as a result of the expansion of Heathrow.

Jesse Norman: The Appraisal of Sustainability that accompanies the Airports National Policy Statement provides a strategic level assessment of the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of expansion, including on noise, based on indicative flight paths.While taking forward an application for development consent of the Northwest runway scheme, Heathrow Airport Limited has also started to engage with the airspace change process necessary to accommodate the additional flights that expansion would enable. In the UK this process is governed by the Civil Aviation Authority, which must approve all changes to the UK’s airspace, including new flight paths. This is a seven-stage process, often taking a number of years between an airport alerting the Civil Aviation Authority to a proposed change, and the Civil Aviation Authority making a decision on whether that change should be implemented.Heathrow Airport Limited are currently at the second stage of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Airspace Change Process. At this early stage it is not possible to identify the expected noise impacts on specific communities. These will depend on the final chosen airspace design. The second part of the process is known as ‘Option Development’, and requires the airport to develop a range of options for the proposed new airspace design. These will then be published, along with a detailed assessment, for public consultation.

Heathrow Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the appropriate level of consultation that should be undertaken in relation to the proposed airspace changes caused by the expansion of Heathrow.

Jesse Norman: The consultation requirements for all airspace change sponsors are set out in the Air Navigation Guidance 2017 issued by the Department to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in October 2017. It is the responsibility of the CAA to ensure that all airspace change sponsors comply with this guidance.

Heathrow Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason his Department prevented Heathrow Airport from (a) informing and (b) consulting with all communities who may be affected by airspace changes in accordance with the Planning Act 2008.

Jesse Norman: The Department cannot prevent Heathrow Airport from a) informing or b) consulting with communities who may be affected by airspace change. Heathrow, as the airspace change sponsor, is responsible for conducting their own consultations on airspace change. Heathrow Airport Limited has already undertaken two stages of public consultation at the scale and size that they deemed appropriate. As the Department understands, for their consultation on airspace design principles in early 2018, Heathrow Airport Limited advertised to over 12 million people, making it one of the largest private sector led consultations with the public in the UK’s history. Furthermore, Heathrow Airport Limited has now concluded a consultation on its airspace design envelopes. These are the wide geographic areas in which flight paths would be positioned in future. The exact flight paths, which will be much narrower and run through these envelopes, will not be determined until later in the airspace change process. It would be as part of Heathrow Airport Limited’s third consultation on airspace that specific proposed routes would be presented.

Heathrow Airport

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of Heathrow airport's ability to meet the Civil Aviation Authority's design principles on airspace changes as a result of precise flight paths associated with the expansion of the airport not yet being known.

Jesse Norman: As part of its airspace change process, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for assessing the individual airspace design principles put forward by an airspace change sponsor. In the case of Heathrow, the CAA was satisfied that the airspace design principles put forward by the airport met its regulatory requirements.

Taxis: Licensing

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing recommendation 11 of the Task and Finish Group report on Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles published in September 2018.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: As outlined in the Government’s response to the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group, published in February 2019, Government is considering carefully how the restriction of out-of-area journeys by taxis and private hire vehicles proposed might work in practice, with a view to legislating.

Network Rail: Recruitment

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the recruitment of adequate numbers of staff to deliver planned Network Rail upgrades.

Andrew Jones: Network Rail is an arm’s length body of the Department and has full responsibility for recruitment and for structuring its workforce to ensure that it can deliver its objectives effectively, including the planned upgrades.

Bus Services: Disability

Mike Hill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the roll-out of buses with audio visual next stop and final destination announcements in (a) the north east of England and (b) Hartlepool.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: In Summer 2018 the Government consulted publicly on plans to use powers in the Bus Services Act 2017 to make Regulations requiring the provision of audible and visible information onboard local bus services across Great Britain. This follows the Government’s commitment, set out in the Inclusive Transport Strategy, to invest £2 million towards ensuring that audio visual equipment is installed on buses. We continue to analyse responses to the consultation and expect to announce our next steps regarding the making of Regulations and publication of guidance later in the year.

Cycling: Greater London

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to support commuters who use polluting cars to travel to work to switch to (a) bikes and (b) e-bikes following the introduction of the ULEZ zone in London.

Jesse Norman: In London, transport is devolved to the Mayor of London and delivered by Transport for London (TfL). The ULEZ is one of The Mayor of London’s proposals to improve London’s air quality, and it is for him to manage any incentives relating to the scheme.The Government is committed to increasing cycling and walking, and has a wide range of policies in place to support this. These were originally set out in detail in the statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in 2017.

Shared Spaces

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his provides to local authorities on the development of shared space schemes where pedestrians and cyclists, but not motorists, are required to share pavement space.

Jesse Norman: The situation in which pavements are shared by cyclists and pedestrians is known as shared use rather than shared space. The Department for Transport issued guidance on the development of these schemes in ‘Local Transport Note 1/12: Shared use routes for pedestrians and cyclists’. It stresses the importance of high quality, inclusive design which addresses the needs of all users, including older people and disabled people. It also emphasises that shared use proposals require careful consideration, and that designers need to ensure that introducing cycling to an existing pedestrian route does not make conditions significantly worse for pedestrians. Local Transport Note 1/12 is available from the Department’s website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shared-use

Shared Spaces

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on the development of shared space schemes where cyclists and motorists are required to share highway space.

Jesse Norman: The Department for Transport issued guidance on the design of cycling infrastructure in ‘Local Transport Note 2/08: Cycle Infrastructure Design’. This provides advice on a wide range of measures, including how to provide facilities for cyclists on-road.Local Transport Note 2/08 is available from the Department’s website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cycle-infrastructure-design-ltn-208The Department is currently updating 'Local Transport Note 2/08: Cycle Infrastructure Design'.Guidance on providing for cyclists on the trunk road network is available in ‘Interim Advice Note 195/16: Cycle Traffic and the Strategic Road Network’, which is available at:http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ha/standards/ians/pdfs/ian195.pdf

Railway Signals: Repairs and Maintenance

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a list of all signalling renewal and maintenance contract awards made by Network Rail during Control Period 5‎ by (a) Network Rail area, (b) contract value, and (c) supplier.

Andrew Jones: Network Rail spend on signalling renewals is broken down by contractor for each year of CP5 in the attached table. 



NR Table
(Word Document, 27.08 KB)

M6: Pollution

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he intends to take to reduce pollution levels on the M6 between junction 7, Great Barr and junction 9, Wednesbury; what assessment he has made of the pollution levels on that carriageway in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: Highways England undertook air quality monitoring of that section of the M6 in 2016. All pollution levels close to the motorway were below the legal thresholds. Highways England are therefore not proposing any specific measures there, but are implementing wider measures designed to improve air quality.More generally, Highways England have been undertaking extensive research into potential air quality solutions for the Strategic Road Network (SRN), and published their air quality strategy in 2017. They have explored a wide range of ideas including different traffic management options and different types of barrier design, and sought to understand the impediments to greater use of electric vans on the network. They are also delivering the commitment in the Road Investment Strategy to ensure that 95% of SRN will have access to a rapid electric charging point every 20 miles by 2020.

Railways: Birmingham

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the decision to close Network Rail's sleeper factory at Washwood Heath, Birmingham; for what reason the proposed new HS2 hub on that site cannot be accommodated elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: There is a Cemex sleeper production facility currently located at Washwood Heath. This site was identified as the preferred location for the Phase One Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot in 2009 and 2012/2013 following assessments of potential sites against the depot’s functional requirements and technical and environmental criteria. The site location was approved by Parliament through The Phase One Hybrid Bill. There is a proposal for a new facility in Bescot which is being developed by Network Rail to produce railway sleepers necessary for them to maintain, renew, and enhance our rail network in addition to the other Network Rail sleeper facilities.

Tyne and Wear Metro

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2019 to Question 238325, if will establish a fund specifically for the extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro that can be drawn down by Nexus to improve connectivity and further develop a North East Regional Light Rail Mass Transit system.

Andrew Jones: While the Government has no plans to establish a specific fund for the extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro, the North East city region has been shortlisted for a share of £1.22bn from the second tranche of the Transforming Cities Fund. We await formal receipt of their proposals later this year, which could include proposals for enhancing the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Tyne and Wear Metro

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) Nexus and (b) other relevant organisations on the expansion of the Tyne and Wear Metro system in the last 12 months.

Jesse Norman: The Secretary of State has not had any discussions about extending the Tyne and Wear Metro system in the last 12 months. The system is locally managed by Nexus and the relevant local authorities, who are responsible for identifying opportunities to extend and improve the system, but the Department has not yet been asked to consider any specific proposals. The North East City Region has been shortlisted for a share of the £1.22 billion second tranche of the Transforming Cities Fund and, as part of the co-development process, Nexus and the relevant authorities are discussing a range of options, including Metro enhancements, with officials in the Department.

Durham Coast Railway Line

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date pacer trains will be removed from the Northern Rail Durham Coast Line.

Andrew Jones: Northern have stated they still aim to retire all Pacers by the end of 2019.

Durham Coast Railway Line

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional capacity will be provided on train services in the Easington constituency following the replacement of pacer trains on the Northern Rail, Durham Coast Line.

Andrew Jones: Northern’s refurbished ‘Sprinter’ trains will form the backbone of services on the Durham Coast following the removal of Pacers. This will deliver a 34% increase in seating capacity and even greater standing capacity when a Pacer is directly compared to a Sprinter unit. All refurbished trains will deliver a much better customer experience including free customer wifi, at seat power, customer information screens and improved lighting and seating.

Shared Spaces: Scotland

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the format timetable is for the joint research with Transport Scotland on shared spaces; and whether that project has gone to tender.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from local authorities on the pause of shared space schemes.

Jesse Norman: The research project into inclusive street design is being led by Transport Scotland, and as such it is for them to provide details of the timetable. However, the Department understands that the intention is for the project to go to tender imminently. The results will then inform revised guidance. Following the publication of the Inclusive Transport Strategy on 25 July 2018, the Department received a number of queries from local authorities and practitioners on the shared space pause. To address these, a joint letter to local authorities was issued on 28 September 2018 by Nusrat Ghani MP, Minister for Accessible Travel and Kit Malthouse MP, Minister for Housing and Planning. The letter is available at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/749116/ministerial-letter-about-shared_space.pdf

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Research: Finance

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that additional funding for the research and development sector is allocated to building the capacity of that sector.

Chris Skidmore: As part of the Government’s commitment to increase overall investment in R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which would be the highest recorded level, and 3% in the longer-term. We are building capacity in a number of ways. For example, we are boosting capacity in artificial intelligence through new AI Masters and AI Centres for Doctoral Training, delivering 1,000 additional PhDs in AI and Turing AI Fellows. We are also boosting capacity in specific places across the UK, building on R&D strengths through our Strength in Places Fund. Twenty-four ambitious projects from pharmaceuticals to aerospace, and transport to the creative economy, are to receive early-stage funding to develop full-stage bids that could lead to significant economic growth in places across the country.

Energy: Housing

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the cost to participants of undertaking the Open College Network West Midlands Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management course; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The Department does not sponsor the Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management course or specify the cost for participating in qualifications.

Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of prospects for a sector deal for the steel industry.

Claire Perry: The Government remains open to discussing a Sector Deal with the steel industry, and has been meeting regularly with companies in this sector to continue this conversation. To support the sector develop a long-term strategy, BEIS commissioned independent research which identified future domestic market opportunities for the UK steel sector worth an additional £3.8 billion per year. We are actively encouraging this sector to come forward with plans to exploit these opportunities, and remain committed to work with the sector, trade unions, and devolved administrations to help deliver these plans. The Government is committed to minimising energy costs for businesses – including the steel industry – to ensure that the UK economy remains strong and competitive. We recognise that the UK’s industrial electricity costs are currently higher than those of our competitors, and so we have taken steps to reduce the cumulative impact of energy and climate change policies on the price of industrial electricity for key industries, such as steel. This includes providing the steel sector with over £285m of compensation since 2013 for the indirect costs due to the EU Emission Trading System, carbon price support mechanism, Renewable Obligation, and small-scale Feed-in Tariff. The Government has also announced an Industrial Energy Transformation Fund – on which we are currently consulting – backed by up to £315m of investment, to help businesses with high energy use cut their bills through increased energy efficiency, and transition UK industry to a low carbon future. The steel sector is actively engaged with UK Research and Innovation in shaping the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund: we are providing up to £66m for the ‘Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge’, subject to industry co-funding. In addition, up to a further £170 million has been provided to develop a ‘net-zero carbon’ industrial cluster, that will help heavy industries – including steel – to share expertise, and innovate low-carbon solutions as we move to a greener, cleaner economy.

Energy: Housing

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which organisations provide the Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management course; and at what level of educational establishment that course is provided.

Claire Perry: Currently the Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management course is delivered by The Retrofit Academy. Other training organisations may develop their own versions in the future. The Department does not sponsor the qualification and it does not specify which educational establishments can provide the course.

Animal Feed: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what comparative assessment he has made of the (a) number and (b) extent of trials of animal feed in the UK and Canada; and what estimate he has made of the level of funding available for that research.

Chris Skidmore: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Biofuels

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will issue a response to Early Day Motion 1771, on subsidies for biomass electricity generation.

Claire Perry: Sustainable biomass has an important role to play in our electricity mix as it can help balance demand on the grid by being dispatchable, balancing out intermittent renewables like solar and wind. We are committed to keeping energy costs as low as possible and subsidies for biomass are monitored through the Levy Control Framework. Biomass plants only receive subsidy for the electricity output which complies with our sustainability criteria We have consistently stated that we see the use of biomass conversions as a transitional technology. We have announced that support for coal to biomass conversions will end in 2027 and we will be consulting on making coal to biomass conversions ineligible for future allocation rounds of the Contract for Difference scheme in due course.

Nuclear Power

Trudy Harrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Regulated Asset Base model and its potential for the nuclear sector.

Chris Skidmore: We are continuing to review the viability of a Regulated Asset Base model as a sustainable mechanism for financing new nuclear projects. My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out to the House on 17 January that we intend to publish our assessment of that method by the summer.

Paternity Leave

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to increase statutory paid paternity leave from two weeks.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is currently carrying out an evaluation of the Shared Parental Leave and Pay scheme, collecting and analysing information from a variety of sources, including a large scale survey of around 4,500 parents. This will provide information on various entitlements to family-related time off work, including Paternity Leave and Pay. We expect to report on the findings of the evaluation later this year.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Selahattin Demirtas

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken in response to UK representatives being denied access to the trial hearings of Selahattin Demirtas in Turkey.

Sir Alan Duncan: The European Union delegation in Turkey has raised the issue of access to the trial hearings of Selahattin Demirtas for diplomats of EU Embassies with the Turkish authorities. Our Embassy has also taken steps to facilitate the access of non-governmental British observers which resulted in British lawyers being allowed to attend the trials. We will continue to monitor this important case.

China: Human Rights

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department’s policies in relation to human rights in China of the (a) 30 witness testimonies and (b) publicly available reading list for Tribunal members presented during the December public hearings of the ongoing China Tribunal.

Mark Field: We are aware of reports that allege that organ harvesting may be taking place in China, including suggestions that minority and religious groups are being specifically targeted. The British government continues to take these reports extremely seriously.These reports include the 2016 update to the Kilgour, Matas and Gutmann report and other information provided so far, including witness testimonies, to the ongoing tribunal organised by the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China and chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC. Foreign and Commonwealth Ofiice officials attended the final day of the opening session of the Tribunal and continue to review new information as it becomes available, including from Non-Governemtnal Organisations, activists and likeminded countries.At present, however, our assessment is that there is not a strong enough evidential base to substantiate the claim that systematic state-sponsored or sanctioned organ harvesting is taking place in China.

China: Organs

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a ban on organ tourism to China as implemented by Italy, Spain, Israel and Taiwan.

Mark Field: We are aware of reports that allege that organ harvesting may be taking place in China, including suggestions that minority and religious groups are being specifically targeted. The British Government continues to take these reports extremely seriously although at present, our assessment is that there is not a strong enough evidential base to substantiate the claim that systematic state-sponsored or sanctioned organ harvesting is taking place in China.We continue to scrutinise the situation carefully and review new information as it becomes available. To that end, I have asked officials to look into the measures reportedly introduced in several other countries relating to travel to China for organ transplants.​

Hong Kong: Extradition

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the proposed amendments to Hong Kong's extradition ordinance's implications for (a) the one country, two systems principle  and (b) the safety of British businesses in the region.

Mark Field: We are aware of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s proposals to change the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance. We have noted the concerns voiced by legal and business representative organisations and civil society groups in Hong Kong about both the content and the short consultation period allowed for the proposed changes.From a bilateral perspective we have raised a number of issues with the Hong Kong Government. These include the implications for both our joint security cooperation and our bilateral extradition treaty and the potential consequences for the UK business community and for UK citizens living in or travelling through Hong Kong. We will continue to seek clarity from the authorities on these points and to make clear that we would welcome a longer consultation period to allow the issues we and others have raised to be dealt with in a comprehensive way that maintains public and business confidence.

Saudi Arabia: Political Prisoners

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in Saudi Arabia on allowing international monitors to investigate Saudi Arabia's treatment of political prisoners.

Mark Field: The British Government is very concerned about allegations of mistreatment of those detained in Saudi Arabia because of their political views. We continue to monitor these cases. We consistently and unreservedly condemn torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to challenge it wherever and whenever it occurs. We have raised concerns about these cases at Ministerial level a number of times with the Saudi authorities and will continue to do so.

Saudi Rapid Intervention Group

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on whether the Saudi Rapid Intervention Group has operated in the UK.

Mark Field: We do not comment on intelligence matters.​

UN Mission in Darfur

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the UN Security Council on extending the timescale for the UNAMID mission in Darfur, Sudan.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK supports peace and stability in Darfur and a gradual and flexible withdrawal of United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), driven by the situation and needs on the ground. In December 2018 the UK, as penholder for the mission’s resolution, drafted the Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2018/19) that sets out key areas and indicators, against which progress is required to ensure a successful drawdown and transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. The UK will continue to closely monitor the situation in Darfur and will work with the UN and in the UN Security Council on this matter.​

Future Leaders Connect

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which organisations in (a) Egypt and (b) the USA are responsible for inviting and nominating applicants for the Future Leaders Connect programme managed by the British Council.

Mark Field: Future Leaders Connect is the British Council’s long-term global network of emerging policy leaders. Now into it's third year, the 2 week programme offers exceptional young leaders opportunities to develop their skills in leadership and policy making, while at the same time building a life-long connection to the UK. Future Leaders Connect is open to applicants aged 18-35 in participating countries Canada, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Tunisia, UK and USA. Applications from Egypt and USA are by invitation only.In Egypt, the British Council works with the Egyptian Government, which raises awareness of the opportunity across its ministries and encourages applicants to apply. In the USA, the British Council works with around 200 stakeholders including the UK’s network of Consulates in the USA, think tanks, academic institutions, alumni award winners, civil society organisations and cultural institutions who nominate applicants to apply for the programme.

Egypt: Mass Media

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) his Egyptian counterpart and (b) the Egyptian ambassador on the recent crackdown on reporters, the media and bloggers; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: Officials continue to raise concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression with the Egyptian authorities both in London and in Cairo. Egypt is a human rights priority country for the UK and the UK wants to see more political progress and better protection of human rights for all Egyptians, as set out in Egypt's Constitution. Our Ambassador to Cairo raised our concerns about human rights and restrictions on media freedom with the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights on 21 February. We also voiced our concerns in our recent statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 12 March.

Trinidad and Tobago: Refugees

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago on the treatment of Venezuelan refugees in that country.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Government remains concerned by the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela and the consequent migration of millions of Venezuelan people. Minister for the Commonwealth and UN, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed this issue with the Trinidad and Tobago Minister of National Security in January 2019. Our High Commissioner has also raised on several occasions the need for a process to register incoming Venezuelans with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago government announced in April 2019 that it will review its migration policy and legislation and produce an amnesty plan.

Brunei: LGBT People

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Sultan of Brunei on the new anti LGBT laws in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: The Foreign Secretary spoke to Brunei’s Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dato Erywan, on 4 April in order to express the UK’s deep concern over Brunei’s decision to implement the final phases of the Sharia Penal Code.I raised UK concerns with the Sultan about hudud punishments during my visit to Brunei Darussalam in August 2018 and delivered a statement to the House of Commons on 4 April addressing the the implications of Brunei’s decision.Additionally the British High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan regularly discusses our concerns with the Government of Brunei and has received assurances that the Common Law will continue to operate in parallel with the Sharia Penal Code.Commonwealth Heads of Government most recently met in the UK in April 2018. His Majesty The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam was present. A communique issued by the leaders included the most progressive language yet on LGBT rights, complimented by an historic speech from the Prime Minister. The UK strongly supports and defends the rights of the LGBT+ community globally. The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and all its forms. The UK upholds international human rights laws relating to torture, or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.We will continue to encourage and work with the Bruneian Government, as with many other countries, to remove corporal and capital punishment from their statutes. We will also urge them to take steps to decriminalise and pass laws to protect LGBT people from all forms of discrimination.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Ministers

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many non-disclosure agreements have been entered into by his Department in each of the last five years in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in his Department.

Sir Alan Duncan: The FCO has not entered into any non-disclosure agreements in each of the last five years in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in the Department.

Burundi: BBC

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Burundian counterpart on the suspension of BBC broadcasting in that country.

Harriett Baldwin: Freedom of the media is an essential quality of any functioning democracy. People must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely, to challenge their governments, and to make considered decisions, informed by a strong and robust media. We therefore condemn the decision made by the Government of Burundi to revoke the BBC's operating license, particularly in light of the 2020 elections for which a free and independent media is vital. We strongly support the BBC's mission to bring high quality and impartial news to global audiences, including where free speech is limited. The Foreign Secretary has tweeted his disappointment and has urged the Government to reverse this decision. Our Ambassador to Burundi and the UK Special Envoy to the Great Lakes are making representations to senior counterparts.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Aircraft: Imports

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with his EU counterpart on the VAT status of aircraft imported into UK territories but remain in EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The Department for Exiting the European Union has had no discussions with EU counterparts on the VAT status of aircraft imported into UK territories as this is not a part of our EU Exit remit.The responsibility for VAT policy rests with Her Majesty’s Treasury.

Department of Health and Social Care

Mental Health Services: Veterans

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many former Armed Service personnel in England are (a) receiving in patient mental health treatment, (b) receiving outpatient mental health treatment and (c) estimated to have mental health symptoms but are not in any form of treatment.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The following table is the Count of referrals received, entering treatment and finishing a course of treatment who recorded as being an ex-British Armed Forces member for Quarter 4 2017/18, Quarter 1, Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 2018/19 in England.QuarterReferrals ReceivedReferrals Entering TreatmentReferrals Finishing a Course of TreatmentQ3 2018/195,5054,2942,438Q2 2018/195,4174,1372,310Q1 2018/195,2374,1162,520Q4 2017/185,2194,0972,362 There is no central estimate on number of ex-armed forces personel that are experiencing poor mental health but are not receiving treatment.

Suicide: Next of Kin

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department takes to support the close relatives of suicide victims.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



Providing better information and support to people bereaved by suicide is a key area for action in the Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, and the NHS Long Term Plan has committed to put in place suicide bereavement support for families and staff working in mental health crisis services in every area of the country. Relatives may access support for bereavement through Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services. People can either self-refer, or be referred for a clinical assessment of their needs. Bereavement counselling is available to people at any time, even if the person that someone lost died a long time ago, through their local general practitioner or by self-referring to national Cruse Bereavement Care.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with NICE on the prescription of medicinal cannabis oil for patients with (a) cerebral palsy and (b) arthritis.

Seema Kennedy: The Department has not discussed with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) the prescription of medicinal cannabis oil for patients with cerebral palsy and arthritis. NICE is the independent expert body that develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether drugs and other treatments represent a clinically and cost effective use of NHS resources. NICE is developing guidance on the prescribing of cannabis-based medicinal products by October 2019. It will be based on the best available international evidence and will have been produced using NICE’s world-renowned process for delivering such guidance. Following a public consultation on the draft scope, the guidance will focus on the use of cannabis-based products in the treatment of chronic pain, intractable nausea and vomiting, spasticity and severe treatment-resistant epilepsy, conditions where the evidence is currently most advanced. A consultation on the draft guidance is expected in the summer.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the availability of suitable accommodation providers for teenagers aged over 16 suffering with mental health issues and at high risk of self-harm.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has not carried out an assessment. Accommodation for teenagers aged over 16 suffering with mental health issues may be commissioned through a number of bodies including NHS England, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities.

Health Services: Travellers and Homelessness

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps (a) his Department plans to take with the NHS to respond to the findings of the Friends Families and Travellers’ report entitled No room at the inn: How easy is it for nomadic Gypsies and Travellers to access primary care and (b) the NHS plans to take to ensure homeless people can access healthcare at any GP practice they choose.

Seema Kennedy: Registering with and access to primary medical care services is the same for all patients, whether they are gypsies, travellers, or homeless people. People do not need to provide proof of address to register with a general practice (GP). NHS England is working with a range of community groups to redesign the patient registration leaflet so that people are aware of this when registering. The free NHS 111 service can assist anyone who has faced difficulty finding a GP or accessing other services in their local area. NHS England is aware of difficulties some individuals have faced when trying to register with a GP and is taking steps to address shortcomings with individual practices, working in partnership with the voluntary sector. The Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Health and Wellbeing Alliance is a partnership arrangement with the aim to facilitate integrated working between the voluntary and statutory sectors, to promote equality and reduce health inequalities. It receives £1.2 million for core work from the Department, with each member receiving funding of up to £60,000. Families and Travellers is a member of the Alliance and have supported the Department on a range of work to date including the Inclusion Health Audit Tool, on maternal health, mental health, end of life care and dementia.

Obesity

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase access to Tier 3 obesity services.

Seema Kennedy: Public Health England has been working with NHS England to support approaches to obesity as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The NHS Long Term Plan has a number of different actions to support the drive to reduce obesity, including investment in tier 3 services for both children and adults and plans are in development for this expansion. This will result in, for example, a further 1,000 children a year being treated by 2022/23 for severe complications related to obesity.

Obesity

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2018 to Question 133501 on obesity, for what reason his Department does not hold information on the number of tier three obesity services commissioned by clinical commissioning groups or local authorities; and whether he plans to collate that information.

Seema Kennedy: It would not be cost-effective for the Department to collect data on every clinical intervention, including information on tier three obesity services commissioned by clinical commissioning groups or local authorities.

General Practitioners: Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP practices (a) have a mental health specialist and (b) employ practice nurses that have received training in mental health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



Information is not held centrally on the number of general practitioner (GP) practices with a mental health specialist, or the number of GP practice nurses that have received mental health training.

Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many midwives specialising in perinatal mental health have been trained in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



The information is not held centrally.

Emigration: Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications have been received for the Government's ex gratia payment scheme for former British child migrants to date.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



As of 3 April 2019, the Child Migrants Trust had received 1,590 expressions of interest and issued 1,316 forms to former British child migrants, to enable them to apply for the payment. 666 completed forms have been received. These will be checked before passing the details to the NHS Business Services Authority to arrange for the payment to be made. We expect the first payments to be made on or soon after 5 April.

Emigration: Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applicants to the Government's ex-gratia payment scheme for former British child migrants have received payments.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



As of 3 April 2019, the Child Migrants Trust had received 1,590 expressions of interest and issued 1,316 forms to former British child migrants, to enable them to apply for the payment. 666 completed forms have been received. These will be checked before passing the details to the NHS Business Services Authority to arrange for the payment to be made. We expect the first payments to be made on or soon after 5 April.

General Practitioners: Training

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2019 to Question 234719 on Primary Health Care, if his Department will develop a mandatory national Inclusion Health training and communication strategy to ensure that all GP receptionists and practice managers are aware of their responsibilities to patients with no fixed address, no identification or no proof of immigration status.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Primary Medical Care Policy and Guidance Manual for local commissioners managing general practitioner (GP) services is clear on inclusion in registration for GP services. People do not need to provide proof of address to register with a general practice. We are aware, via Refugee Action, of instances where individual practices may have excluded patients with no documentation from registering with a GP. NHS England are raising these issues with local commissioners to ensure appropriate and targeted action, including training/education, reinforced if required by contractual action, to prevent a recurrence.

Pregnancy Tests

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether a meta-analysis was carried out as part of the Commission on Human Medicines' Expert Working Group review into Hormone Pregnancy Tests.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has for peer review the report of the Commission on Human Medicines Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



The Commission on Human Medicines’ Expert Working Group (EWG) review into Hormone Pregnancy Tests (HPTs) was comprehensive, scientifically robust and independent. Based on the totality of the data, the review concluded the available scientific evidence did not support a causal association between the use of HPTs during early pregnancy and birth defects or miscarriage. All evidence considered by the EWG has been published online. The EWG did not undertake a meta-analysis as part of the review. The EWG examined a large number of epidemiological studies, many of which were conducted under different designs. The EWG considered whether meta-analysis was possible and ultimately concluded that because the studies were so different such an analysis would not be informative. Meta-analysis was also not considered appropriate because the studies were not sufficiently robust and suffered from extensive limitations. The EWG comprised independent experts from a wide range of relevant specialisms and its report was further scrutinised by the Commission on Human Medicines, the Government’s independent scientific advisory body on the safety of medicines. There are no plans for further peer review of the report. The Government is committed to reviewing any important new evidence that arises.

Organs: Donors

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage organ donation; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS Blood and Transplant is the organ and tissue donor organisation for the United Kingdom and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. NHS Blood and Transplant is currently implementing the UK-wide ‘Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020’ Strategy (2013), which aims to achieve world class performance in organ donation and transplantation. Objectives include to increase the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register to 30 million by 2020; to improve the consent/authorisation rate to 80% by 2020; and to portray donation as a positive step in the grieving process. While there is an urgent shortage of organs for transplant for people from all backgrounds the problem is particularly acute for black, Asian and minority ethnic patients, who are more likely to need an organ transplant. The Department launched a campaign in July 2018, delivered by NHS Blood and Transplant, with support from the National Black, Asian, Mixed Race and Minority Ethnic Transplant Alliance, to increase donation rates by raising awareness and breaking down barriers to donation within these communities. A toolkit is available at the following link: http://bit.ly/bameODtoolkit In addition, the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent Act) 2019 will be introducing a new system of consent for organ and tissue donation in England, from 2020, to help increase the number of donors. NHS Blood and Transplant will launch a 12-month communication campaign before the law comes into force, to raise awareness of the changes and the options available under the new system.

Obesity: Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to tackle the rate of cancer caused by obesity.

Seema Kennedy: We published the second chapter of our world-leading childhood obesity plan in June 2018. This builds on the real progress we have made since the publication of chapter one in 2016, particularly in reformulation of the products our children eat and drink most. In chapter two we have set a bold ambition to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and significantly reduce the gap in obesity between children from the most and least deprived areas by 2030. Many of the measures in both chapters of the plan will have an impact on tackling obesity across all age groups. These include the soft drinks industry levy, sugar reduction and wider calorie reformulation programme, restricting promotions and calorie labelling in restaurants which will improve our eating habits and reduce the amount of sugar we consume. ‘Childhood obesity: a plan for action, chapter 2’ is available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action-chapter-2

Low Birthweight Babies

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many babies have been born at a low birth weight in each year since 2010.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



The number of babies born with low birthweight, less than 2,500g, in England in each year from 2010-16 are shown in the following table. Data for 2017 and 2018 are not available.YearNumber of births with low birthweight201050,035201150,726201250,516201348,657201448,284201548,442201648,112 Notes:Source: Child health profiles, Fingertips: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/child-health-profiles/data#page/3/gid/1938133257/pat/6/par/E12000004/ati/102/are/E06000015/iid/92531/age/29/sex/4Data includes both live and stillbirths.Not all births are recorded with a valid birth weight.

Bipolar Disorder: Drugs

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the NHS on the availability of drugs to treat bi-polar disorders in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the NHS on the availability of drugs to treat epilepsy in the event of that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the NHS on the availability of drugs to treat neuropathic pain in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which drugs has his Department identified as at risk of shortage in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Stephen Hammond: Leaving the European Union with a ‘deal’ remains the Government’s top priority and would give businesses stability and certainty to prepare for our new relationship with the EU after EU exit. The Department has published guidance to industry and the health and care system to allow them to make informed plans and preparations. This is available on GOV.UK. On 26 March, we wrote to all other organisations in the health and care system to ask them to continue to prepare for leaving the EU without a ‘deal’. My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care discusses ‘no deal’ contingency plans, including those for the availability of medicines, with a number of stakeholders, including the National Health Service and other Government Departments. The Department has been working closely with trade bodies, product suppliers, the NHS in England, and the devolved administrations and the Crown Dependencies, to ensure the continuation of the supply of medicines to the whole of the United Kingdom in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. This includes the NHS, social care and the independent sector, and covers licensed medicines (prescription only, pharmacy and general sales list medicines) and unlicensed medicines (specials, investigational medicinal products and UK imports). We understand that medicines to treat conditions such as epilepsy, bi-polar disorder and neuropathic pain are vitally important to many people in this country. Our contingency plans include sensible mitigations for medicines that come to the UK from or via the EU/European Economic Area, such as precautionary stockpiling by suppliers, to ensure that the supply of essential medicines to patients is not disrupted.

NHS: Staff

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his department has made of the adequacy of staffing levels in the NHS.

Stephen Hammond: As at December 2018, the National Health Service employed near-record levels of staff, with an increase of almost 72,800 full time equivalent staff since 2010. There are currently over 52,000 nurses in undergraduate training, over 30,000 doctors in undergraduate training, and over 50,000 doctors currently in foundation and specialty postgraduate medical training. The Government is already increasing nurse training places by 25%, with 5,000 additional nurse training places available every year from September 2018. Additionally, in 2018, up to 5,000 nursing associates commenced training through the apprentice route and the Department has a commitment to train up to a further 7,500 in 2019. The Government also made a commitment to have 5,000 additional doctors in general practice. The Department has started to roll out an extra 1,500 medical school places for domestic students, with the first 630 places taken up in September 2018. By 2020, five new medical schools will have opened to help deliver the expansion. Furthermore, the NHS Long Term Plan sets out a vital strategic framework to ensure that over the next 10 years the NHS will have the staff it needs, so that nurses and doctors can administer the expert compassionate care they are committed to providing. Baroness Dido Harding, Chair of NHS Improvement, working closely with Sir David Behan, Chair of Health Education England, will lead a number of programmes to develop a detailed workforce implementation plan. Baroness Harding and Sir David will present these initial recommendations to the Department this spring.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue a response to Early Day Motion 1832, on legalisation of medical cannabis.

Seema Kennedy: The Government is clear that the decision to prescribe a cannabis-based product for medicinal use should only be made where it is clinically appropriate and in the best interest of the patient. This will be subject to local National Health Service governance and funding arrangements for prescribing unlicensed medicines, and patients will not be able to be prescribed such products by their general practitioner – and would require referral to a specialist clinician on the basis of clinical need.The evidence base for cannabis-based products for medicinal use is still developing. However, the changes to the law are designed to encourage further research and the National Institute for Health Research has issued two calls for research proposals to rapidly advance knowledge in this area and remains open to research proposals outside of these calls in this priority area.Interim clinical guidance, issued by the Royal College of Physicians, British Paediatric Neurology Association and Association of British Neurologists is based on the best available international evidence and reflects clinical guidance that has been published in other jurisdictions. This guidance will be updated and replaced in October 2019 by that commissioned from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

NHS

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what contingency plans his Department has to mitigate (a) staff and (b) pharmaceutical shortages in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Stephen Hammond: The Department continues to monitor and analyse overall staffing levels in the health and social care sectors and we have been monitoring leaver and joiner rates of European Union staff on a regular basis since the 2016 referendum. While we do not expect our exit from the EU to lead to a significant number of health staff leaving on or around exit day, we are not complacent and are continually monitoring staffing levels and working with other Government Departments and local areas to put in place mechanisms to respond to any shortages. We hugely value the contribution of EU staff working in health and social care and the Government has made it clear that we want them to stay. That is why EU staff in health and social care have had early access to the EU Settlement Scheme since December 2018, allowing them to secure their rights to live and work in the United Kingdom. In March 2019, we put in place legislation that ensures the continued recognition of qualifications from EU countries by all professional regulators covering the health and social care sectors. This means EU staff who are currently practising in the UK can continue to do so, and that professionals qualified in the European Economic Area and Switzerland can continue to apply for registration after ‘exit day’, even if we leave without a ‘deal’. Furthermore, the NHS Long Term Plan sets out a vital strategic framework to ensure that over the next 10 years the National Health Service will have the staff it needs, so that nurses and doctors can administer the expert compassionate care they are committed to providing. Baroness Dido Harding, Chair of NHS Improvement, working closely with Sir David Behan, Chair of Health Education England, will lead a number of programmes to develop a detailed workforce implementation plan. Baroness Harding and Sir David will present these initial recommendations to the Department this spring. On medicines, the Department has been working closely with trade bodies, product suppliers, the NHS in England, and the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies, to ensure the continuation of the supply of medicines to the whole of the UK in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit. This includes the NHS, social care and the independent sector and covers licensed medicines (prescription only, pharmacy and general sales list medicines) and unlicensed medicines (specials, investigational medicinal products and UK imports). The Department, together with industry and the NHS, has analysed the supply chains of 12,300 medicines and we are grateful for excellent engagement from all parties, which means our plans are well advanced. As a result of this analysis, the Department has put in place a multi-layered approach to minimise any supply disruption. We are confident that, if everyone does what they need to do, the supply of medicines and medical products will be uninterrupted in the event of exiting the EU without a deal.

Haemophilia

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2019 to Question 230073 on Haemophilia, if he will place copies in the library of National Haemophilia Database data on the average number of bleeds people with (a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) severe (i) Haemophilia A and (ii) Haemophilia B had in the latest year for which data is available.

Seema Kennedy: Data on the average number of bleeds for people with severe haemophilia A and haemophilia B is shown in the following table.DiagnosisPatients treated 2018 (number)Bleed count 2018MeanStandard deviationMedian (interquartile range)Severe Haemophilia A1,5534.18.21 (0 - 5)Severe Haemophilia B2633.77.61 (0 - 4) The National Haemophilia Database have very limited bleed-level data for patients with mild or moderate haemophilia, as these patients do not bleed frequently and therefore do not generally require home therapy. The non-severe patients using Haemtrack are skewed towards the severe end of moderate and anyone with zero bleeds is very unlikely to be reporting. For this reason, they have excluded non-severe patients from these results, as they would make the data unlikely to be robust. It should be noted that the following limitations apply to this data: 1. The data is derived from patient-reported Haemtrack home therapy diary data.2. The data is limited to patients who require home-therapy.3. These results are prone to reporting bias since uncompliant patients and patients treated on-demand, treated only when they bleed, are under-represented in this sample. The data may therefore paint a slightly optimistic picture.4. About 85-90% of clinically severely affected (less than 2% VIII/IX) patients are managed with regular prophylaxis to prevent bleeding. Prior to prophylaxis, patients treated on-demand bled between twice a week and once a fortnight and, as the figures show, the mean annualised bleed rate has been dramatically reduced to about four per year. However, our aim is for the patients to be bleed free, without which the joints will not be fully protected from bleeding.

Haemophilia

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2019 to Question 230073 on Haemophilia, if he will place copies in the library of National Haemophilia Database data on the number and patients with (a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) severe (i) haemophilia A and (ii) haemophilia B by the number of bleeds they had in the most recent year for which data is available.

Seema Kennedy: The data on the number of patients with severe haemophilia A and haemophilia B by the number of bleeds is attached. The National Haemophilia Database (NHD) have very limited bleed-level data for patients with mild or moderate haemophilia since these patients do not bleed frequently and do not generally require home therapy. The non-severe patients using Haemtrack are skewed towards the severe end of moderate and anyone with zero bleeds is very unlikely to be reporting. For this reason, the NHD have excluded non-severe patients from this data, as it makes the data unlikely to be robust. It should be noted that the following limitations apply to this data:The data are derived from patient-reported Haemtrack home therapy diary data.The data is limited to patients who require home-therapy.These results are prone to reporting bias since uncompliant patients and patients treated on-demand, treated only when they bleed, are under-represented in this sample. The data may therefore paint a slightly optimistic picture.About 85-90% of clinically severely affected (less than 2% VIII/IX) patients are managed with regular prophylaxis to prevent bleeding. Prior to prophylaxis, patients treated on-demand bled between twice a week and once a fortnight and, as the figures show, the mean annualised bleed rate has been dramatically reduced to about four per year. However, our aim is for the patients to be bleed free, without which the joints will not be fully protected from bleeding.



PQ240996 attached information
(Excel SpreadSheet, 21.39 KB)

Haemophilia

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2019 to Question 230073 on Haemophilia, if he will publish the number of patients with (a) mild, (b) moderate and (c) severe (i) haemophilia A and (ii) haemophilia B by (A) the number of bleeds they had in the most recent year for which data is available and (B) age groups (1) 0 to 18 and (2) over 18.

Seema Kennedy: The number of patients with severe haemophilia A and haemophilia B for 2018 by the number of bleeds they had and age groups 0 to 18 and over 18, is attached. The National Haemophilia Database (NHD) have very limited bleed-level data for patients with mild or moderate haemophilia who do not bleed frequently and do not generally require home therapy. The non-severe patients using Haemtrack are skewed towards the severe end of moderate and anyone with zero bleeds is very unlikely to be reporting. For this reason, the NHD have excluded non-severe patients from these results, as it makes the data unlikely to be robust. It should be noted that the following limitations apply to this data:1. The data is derived from patient-reported Haemtrack home therapy diary data.2. The data is limited to patients who require home-therapy.3. These results are prone to reporting bias since uncompliant patients and patients treated on-demand, treated only when they bleed, are under-represented in this sample. The data may therefore paint a slightly optimistic picture.4. About 85-90% of clinically severely affected (less than 2% VIII/IX) patients are managed with regular prophylaxis to prevent bleeding. Prior to prophylaxis, patients treated on-demand bled between twice a week and once a fortnight and, as the figures show, the mean annualised bleed rate has been dramatically reduced to about four per year. However, our aim is for the patients to be bleed free, without which the joints will not be fully protected from bleeding.



PQ240997 attached data
(Excel SpreadSheet, 20.72 KB)

Postnatal Depression: Fathers

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support fathers with paternal depression.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department recognises that becoming a parent can have significant impact on an individual’s mental health. NHS England has invested in better perinatal mental health care for new and expectant mothers, with at least 9,000 additional women receiving treatment last year. This is significant progress against the target set out in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health for at least 30,000 additional women each year to access evidence-based specialist perinatal mental health treatment. The NHS Long Term Plan commits to extend this support, including by offering fathers and partners of women accessing specialist perinatal mental health services and maternity outreach clinics evidence-based assessment for their mental health and signposting to support as required. This will contribute to helping to care for the 5-10% of fathers who experience mental health difficulties during the perinatal period. Parents are also able to access care and support, including talking therapies or specific community mental health support, the same as any other patient group.

Tomography: Oxfordshire

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England on the procurement of PET-CT scanning services in Oxfordshire.

Seema Kennedy: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care meets with NHS England regularly to discuss a variety of topics.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Brexit

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff from her Department have been seconded to other posts in Government to help deliver the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Harriett Baldwin: In line with its commitment to support other government departments with their immediate resourcing needs, DFID has deployed a total of 101 staff, as at 3 April 2019. These are short term loans to support essential work related to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Department for International Development: Secondment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what effect the secondment of 600 staff to other Government Departments has had on the core work of her Department.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID has not deployed 600 staff to other government departments. DFID has undertaken a detailed prioritisation exercise to assess the internal resource required to maintain essential delivery. For DFID, this entails meeting the legal commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income) on international development in an effective and value for money way and the ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies. All other DFID business is highly important however officials have taken decisions to slow or pause delivery in order to support the EU exit related resource requirements of other government departments. As at 3 April 2019, 101 DFID staff have been deployed to support essential work related to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Department for International Development: Secondment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of secondment of staff to other Government Departments on her Department's ability to deliver its  core mission.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID has undertaken a detailed prioritisation exercise to assess the internal resource required to maintain essential delivery. For DFID, this entails meeting the legal commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income) on international development in an effective and value for money way and the ability to respond to humanitarian emergencies.

Developing Countries: Cocoa

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department has provided to (a) charities and (b) humanitarian organisations in the eradication of (i) poverty and (ii) slavery in cocoa farms throughout the world.

Harriett Baldwin: Creating productive jobs and improving working conditions is critical to poverty reduction. The Department for International Development (DFID) is a long-term supporter of the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL Alliance), the umbrella organisation for standards systems such as Fairtrade. DFID also supports the Ethical Trading Initiative, a multi-stakeholder body working with the UK food industry, their suppliers, trade unions and charities to implement International Labour Organisation standards in global value chains, including cocoa value chains. Our work on responsible investments focuses on a range of priorities, including improved conditions in the agriculture sector. DFID is also at the forefront of the UK’s international efforts to implement the Prime Minister’s 2017 “Call to Action to end Forced Labour, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking”. This is a crucial part of our efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 8 on ending modern slavery. In 2017 the UK Government committed to doubling aid spending to tackle modern slavery to £150 million. We have exceeded this goal, with UK aid committed now exceeding £200 million.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the (a) effect on young children with (i) malnutrition and (ii) cholera and (b) the other humanitarian effects of the airstrike on Kitaf Hospital on 26 March.

Harriett Baldwin: We are deeply concerned of reports of an alleged airstrike on a petrol station near a hospital facility on 26 March 2019. UK officials have been in contact with Save the Children, who fund the hospital, about this alleged incident and have raised this matter with the Saudi-led Coalition, who have announced an investigation into this alleged incident. The UK is clear that there can be no military solution to this conflict. A political settlement is the only way to provide long term stability to Yemen and address the worsening humanitarian crisis; we encourage further constructive engagement from all parties to achieve this.

Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of her Department's programmes in Pakistan in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin: Pakistan is one of the UK’s top development priorities. A more prosperous and inclusive country will help millions of the poorest people to have a better future and improve stability and security in Pakistan and the UK. The figures from our annual audited accounts for DFID investment in Pakistan are: 17/18 £367.2m16/17 £422.11m15/16 £336.3m14/15 £255.4m13/14 £253.0m

British Overseas Territories: Environment Protection

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much money her Department has spent on environmental protection in the Overseas Territories in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin: The annual contributions DFID makes to the national budgets of Montserrat, St Helena and Pitcairn (those Overseas Territories eligible for official development assistance (ODA)) which support the delivery of government services, includes funds for environmental protection. DFID contributed £500,000 each year from 2012 -2015 to the Darwin Plus Initiative, a challenge fund created by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and DFID to support environmental protection. Since the 2015 Spending Review, all ODA spend for Darwin Plus has been managed by DEFRA.

Israel: Palestinians

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which research partner has been selected by her Department for the People for Peaceful Change programme.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID has agreed that Search for Common Ground (SFCG) should select the research partner through a closed selection process because the processes involved in an open competition would place sensitive information about existing programme activities into the public domain. Our risk assessment indicates that this information could be used to target future programme activities, individual participants, or local staff involved in the management of the programme, and so we took this decision in order to uphold the aid principle to do no harm. DFID received the bids from SFCG on 17 March 2019, and the evaluation panel comprehensively reviewed the bids and concluded that they did not sufficiently address the scope of work required for the People for Peaceful Change research piece. DFID is currently in the middle of agreeing an alternative option to effectively deliver a comprehensive and robust research element to this programme. We will release an interim update on the research piece to update MPs by the end of April.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to her Department's Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian Authority (PA), what discussions her Department has had with the PA on the naming of a PA Ministry of Education sports festival at the Beitunia Upper Elementary School for Girls after terrorist Dalal Mughrabi.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK strongly condemns any language or actions that could stir up hatred and prejudice. Our support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding which requires the PA to commit to adhere to the principle of non-violence and to tackle language and avoid actions that could incite violence or hatred. We have held meetings with the PA that will inform the 2019 assessment, which we are currently finalising. The UK regularly raises allegations of incitement in the education sector in our conversations with the PA, and had a detailed discussion on this topic as recently as 21 March 2019.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the UK’s aid spending on the Occupied Palestinian Territories is allocated directly to local NGOs.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID in the Occupied Palestinian Territories does not provide any direct funding to local NGOs. DFID works through a limited number of partners in the OPTs such as the UN, the World Bank, the ICRC and the European Union. We select our partners for the strong safeguards they have in place, which reduces delivery risks and ensures the maximum impact of UK aid for Palestinians. However, some of our international NGO and multilateral partners do work with local NGOs to achieve the best development outcomes, with a strong focus on appropriate safeguards and ensuring value for money for the UK taxpayer. DFID implements a robust monitoring and evaluation system to ensure that UK aid reaches the intended beneficiaries.

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the vaccination of women against the HPV virus in countries in which that vaccination is not yet available or accepted.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK is supporting the increased use of the HPV vaccine through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is the largest donor to Gavi, which has helped 30 countries take the first steps to introducing the HPV vaccine with the aim of vaccinating 40 million girls by 2020. This will protect the poorest and most vulnerable girls from the leading cause of cervical cancer.UK support for Gavi is also helping accelerate the introduction of the HPV vaccine to more countries through Gavi’s market shaping and price reduction strategy, which is making the vaccine more available and affordable.Civil society and young girls play a key role in ensuring the vaccine is accepted and in high demand. Gavi supports these groups through positive communications and messaging about the full benefits of the HPV vaccine and the protection it offers.The UK will host Gavi’s next pledging conference in 2020, demonstrating our continued strong commitment to supporting Gavi's efforts to increase vaccinations against the HPV virus as well as other vaccine preventable diseases.

Department for Education

Schools: Fire Prevention

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the (a) Scottish and (b) Welsh Governments on the adequacy of school fire safety standards.

Nick Gibb: The Department will engage with the devolved administrations, as appropriate, when developing policy areas. Officials have been in contact with the relevant school specialists in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Governments to alert them to the review of Building Bulletin 100 (fire safety in schools).

Further Education: Leigh

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of further education provision in Leigh constituency.

Anne Milton: The quality of further education (FE) provision is assessed by Ofsted under their published inspection framework. Currently the 3 major FE colleges in Wigan local authority area, including Leigh, are rated by Ofsted as Outstanding or Good for Overall Effectiveness. In July 2015, the government announced a rolling programme of around 40 local area reviews, to be completed by March 2017, covering all FE colleges in England. The reviews were designed to ensure that colleges are financially stable into the long term, that they are run efficiently, and are well-positioned to meet the present and future needs of individual students and the demands of employers. In November 2016, the Greater Manchester Area Review report was published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-manchester-further-education-area-review-report. This review did not recommend the need for any significant structural changes for further education provision in the Wigan area. The new ‘College Oversight: Support and Intervention’ document, which was published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/college-oversight-support-and-intervention on 1 April 2019, sets out how we will work with FE colleges to identify financial and quality issues early. It sets out the support and advice available to colleges when they need it from the FE Commissioner and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), who assess financial and quality issues on an ongoing basis. This support includes the potential for FE Commissioner-led local provision reviews, the need for which may arise from a number of challenges that affect a college and/or further education provision in a local area, such as:Weakness or failure of existing providers (including risk of insolvency)Increased competitionDeclining learner recruitmentInadequate qualitySignificant financial challengesChanges in local demographics and/or local skills needs The ESFA works with local authorities where there are concerns about gaps in suitable and accessible local FE provision for young people. Local authorities have broad duties to encourage, enable and assist young people to participate in education or training, including to secure sufficient suitable education and training provision for all young people in their area who are over compulsory school age but under 19 or aged 19 to 25 and for whom an Education, Health and Care plan is maintained, as set out at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/participation-of-young-people-education-employment-and-training. A concern has not been formally raised to ESFA by Wigan local authority in respect of adequacy of further education provision in Leigh. From August 2019, responsibility for the funding and adequacy of adult FE provision for residents in Wigan (including Leigh) will pass to Greater Manchester Combined Authority under devolution arrangements.

Pupils

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of pupils who have moved in year at (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) further education level by local authority area in the last three years.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many individual (a) primary and (b) secondary children moved schools in year (i) twice, (ii) three times, (iii) four times and (iv) more than four times in the last academic year; and what information his Department holds on the pupil characteristics of children who have moved school in year on more than one occasion.

Nick Gibb: ​The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Justice

Legal Aid Scheme

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total amount of spending commitments was that his Department made in its post-implementation LASPO review.

Lucy Frazer: Holding answer received on 03 April 2019



Alongside the post-implementation review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO), we published the Legal Support Action Plan which outlines the steps the Government will be taking over the next two years to enhance the breadth of support to people experiencing legal problems. We are funding a number of changes to legal aid, including; improving the exceptional case funding scheme, removing the mandatory element of the CLA telephone gateway and expanding the scope of legal aid to include Special Guardianship Orders in private family law.Alongside this, we are delivering £5m in innovation funding to drive change across the sector and doubling our funding to support litigants in person to £3m for each of the next two years. We will be funding a series of pilots to build a robust evidence base, testing methods of delivering support to make sure that people can access the right type of support at the right time, in the right way for them. The outcomes and evidence base that we will build up through the projects announced in the Legal Support Action Plan will inform future decisions on how we deliver that support.

Courts: Reform

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been spent from the public purse on the courts reform programme in each financial year since 2014.

Lucy Frazer: As of February 2019, HM Courts and Tribunals Service has spent £514m on the Reform Programme. Broken down by year this equals:2014/15 - £15m2015/16 - £57m2016/17 - £114m2017/18 - £162m2018/Feb 19 - £165m  The ambitious Reform programme, developed in partnership with the Judiciary is bringing new technology and modern ways of working to the justice system. New digital services are already making a difference, with 150,000 people using online justice systems in 2018. Public feedback is positive with 85% of people reporting they are happy with the new divorce service, 93% for probate and 89% for civil money claims.

Courts: Reform

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the £1 billion budget of the courts reform program has been revised.

Lucy Frazer: The £1 billion budget remains unchanged.

Charitable Donations

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the termination of the Department’s contract with Smee and Ford, what changes his Department plans make to its legacy notification service for charities to ensure the new system is fully compliant with the law.

Lucy Frazer: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



HMCTS are continuing to define the long-term requirements and strategy for the future delivery of this service. In doing so, they met with representatives of the charity sector last month and a summary of this meeting is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmcts-legacy-notification-service-meeting-summary-5-march-2019 HMCTS is looking to establish interim arrangements to ensure that charities continue to receive a notification service beyond the end of the current arrangements with Smee & Ford as we develop a sustainable arrangement that is both fully compliant with our legal duties and meets the needs of those who use it.

Charitable Donations

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the termination of his Department’s contract with Smee and Ford, what interim solutions will be put in place to ensure continuity of the legacy notification service for charities; and whether those solutions will include extending the current provider’s contract beyond July.

Lucy Frazer: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



HMCTS is currently considering a range of options for an interim service that will ensure charities continue to receive a notification service beyond the end of the current arrangements with Smee & Ford. We are committed to developing a sustainable arrangement that meets the needs of those who use it, and meets legal requirements.

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

Trudy Harrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to provide support for victims of domestic violence.

Edward Argar: This Government is absolutely committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse. The Ministry of Justice provides £68m in funding each year to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to provide support services to victims of crime. Of this, PCCs reported spending approximately £23.5 million in 2017/18 on services for victims of domestic abuse; these include tailored specialist support and advocacy through trained Independent Domestic Violence Advisors as well as practical and emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning. In the Victims Strategy, published in September 2018, we committed to developing a new delivery model for victim support services, including services for domestic abuse victims, to increase availability of victim services through more joined up and sustainable funding. Compensation also plays an important part in providing end-to-end support for victims of violent crime, including victims of domestic abuse. The Government funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme exists to compensate victims who suffer serious physical or mental injury as a direct result of a violent crime. The Ministry of Justice is also working jointly with the Home Office on the Domestic Abuse Bill which was published in draft on 21 January 2019, alongside an accompanying package of over 120 non-legislative measures. Improving support for victims sits at the heart of this work and we have also provided an additional £20 million to support organisations working to combat domestic abuse and to support victims.

Legal Aid Scheme: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the availability of solicitors qualified to conduct Criminal Legal Aid work in rural Wales.

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total amount spent on Criminal Legal Aid was in cases in which the defendant’s place of abode was in Wales in each of the last five years.

Lucy Frazer: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



The Lord Chancellor (via the Legal Aid Agency) has a duty to ensure that qualifying individuals who require assistance at the police station or the magistrates’ courts and who do not have their own solicitor have access to a Duty Solicitor. The LAA monitors capacity in each duty scheme area based on the number of solicitor organisations in that area, as well as the proportion of duty solicitors each of those organisations engages. There are currently 126 offices contracted to deliver criminal legal aid services in the Wales area. Additionally, across the 16 areas which make up the Duty Solicitor scheme in Wales, there are 260 solicitors listed on the rota who are available to provide advice and assistance. We are confident we have solicitors to fulfil criminal cases and will make sure we continue to do so. The Legal Aid Agency monitors access to public funding according to the location of the solicitor providing the service. Client location is not reliably captured for the majority of the criminal legal aid scheme and therefore accurate data based on a defendant’s residence is not available. Information on expenditure under criminal legal aid by solicitor offices located in Wales is proactively published, and is available to view at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720217/legal-aid-statistics-crime-provider-area-data-to-mar-2018.ods.

Legal Representation: Wales

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people represented themselves at (a) magistrates and (b) Crown courts in Wales in each of the last five years.

Lucy Frazer: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



The Department publishes County Court, Family Court and Crown Court figures on defendants or parties with no (or unknown) representation. These data do not represent the number of litigants in person, however, because a party may be without representation for only part of a case. Information on unrepresented defendants in Magistrates’ Courts is not held centrally.The Ministry of Justice holds data on representation status at (a) first hearing and (b) any hearing for defendants dealt with in the Crown Court, and the latest available data is published here for England and Wales combined: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-annual-january-to-march-2018. Data specifically for Wales is shown in the following tables.Representation status, at first hearing, of defendants dealt with in the Crown Court, Wales, annually 2014 - 2017YearTotal number  of defendantsRepresentation status at first hearingKnown represention1No advocate representation/ unknown2NumberNumberPercentageNumberPercentage20145,3685,17596%1934%20155,6775,43396%2444%20164,7594,58796%1724%20174,3434,24498%992% Representation status, any hearing, of defendants dealt with in the Crown Court, Wales, annually 2014 – 2017YearTotal number  of defendantsRepresentation status at any hearing3Known represention4No advocate representation/ unknown5NumberNumberPercentageNumberPercentage20145,3685,351100%170%20155,6775,655100%220%20164,7594,72999%301%20174,3434,31399%301%Notes1) Includes defendants who were known to be represented by an advocate or solicitor at first hearing.2) Includes defendants who did not have an advocate recorded at the first hearing and defendants whose advocate representation was unknown.3) These figures do not indicate how many hearings, within a trial, had representation.4) Includes defendants who were known to be represented by an advocate or solicitor at any hearing.5) Includes defendants who did not have an advocate recorded at any hearing and defendants whose advocate representation was unknown.

Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal: Standards

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in ensuring public protection in relation to the legal sector and (b) potential effect of a change in the standard of proof used by the Tribunal from the criminal to the civil standard on the level of public confidence in that process.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect on the level of public confidence in the legal sector of the continued use by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal of the criminal standard of proof.

Lucy Frazer: The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) is an independent Tribunal which has a statutory right to make its own rules, under section 46 of the Solicitors Act 1974.Following a consultation in 2018, the SDT has now confirmed it intends to make new rules, including a change to using the civil standard of proof in all determinations.

Legal Profession: Regulation

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish the consultation referred to in his Department’s November 2015 publication entitled A Better Deal Cm 9164 on making legal regulators independent from representative bodies.

Lucy Frazer: As set out in our response to the Competition and Markets Authority, following its 2016 legal services market study, we believe that there is scope to make more progress on regulator independence within the existing framework. However, we will closely monitor developments in this area and will keep the case for further action under review.

Sexual Offences: Victims

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support is available from (a) the CPS and (b) other organisations for victims of grooming and sexual exploitation following (i) Operation Optic in Newcastle and (ii) other failed prosecutions.

Edward Argar: This Government attaches the highest priority to tackling grooming and all forms of sexual exploitation and to ensuring that all victims, whether they are a child or an adult, get the protection and support they need. In 2018/19, the Ministry of Justice allocated almost £1.7m to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria to commission support services for victims of crime, together with £116K specifically for services supporting victims of child sexual abuse. Additionally, Government directly allocated a further £272,600 to four services in Northumbria to provide independent, specialist support to victims of sexual violence and exploitation, including victims of child sexual abuse. From April 2019 the total funding available to these services has increased by 10% - up to £8m per year – and extended to three years to provide support services with greater stability and security to ensure they can focus on delivering their essential services. Part of this funding will go towards Independent Sexual Violence Advisors to provide impartial advocacy for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse and their families. CPS North East is working closely with Newcastle Crown Court and other partners within the Criminal Justice System to improve the experience of victims and witnesses when attending court and to ensure that the commitments to witness care set out in the Victim’s Code and the Witness Charter are properly delivered. The Victims Strategy, published on 10 September 2018, sets out commitments to develop a new delivery model for victim support services; coordinating and combining funding for these services across government to increase their impact, and improving access to victim support services, including third sector and statutory services.

Department for International Trade

Liquefied Natural Gas: Tanzania

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to support UK businesses to work in Tanzania on projects involving liquefied natural gas.

Graham Stuart: DIT offers a full range of services to support UK companies wishing to expand into overseas markets. These include country and sector advice, local market research, support during overseas visits and identification of possible business partners. All of these services are available to support UK businesses to work in Tanzania on projects involving LNG.

Department for International Trade: Ministers

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many non-disclosure agreements have been entered into by his Department in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in his Department in each of the last five years.

Graham Stuart: None.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Night Shelters: Finance

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will meet with representatives of local authorities to discuss funding for shelters for homeless people (a) in the UK and (b) Southport.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Our expert Rough Sleeper Initiative and Homelessness Advice and Support Team, as well as MHCLG officials, meet with local authority representatives throughout the UK on a regular basis to support their work with rough sleeping and homeless people in their area.Sefton Local Authority which includes the town of Southport will be receiving £124,582 in funding through the Rough Sleeping Initiative to support people off the streets in 2019/20. This will be used to support homeless people with complex needs and a clinical outreach post.The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. In its first year, the Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff. In all, the Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period.

Homelessness: Mortality Rates

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the death rate among homeless people.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Every death of someone sleeping rough on our streets is one too many and we take this matter extremely seriously. The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. In its first year, the Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff.It should not happen that people die prematurely and on the street because they are homeless. Whilst we recognise that suitable housing is a key part of the solution, health services have a significant role to play, alongside other public services. My department is working with the Department for Health and Social Care to ensure that rough sleepers have the health care they need, when they need it. The 10 year NHS long-term plan sets out that the NHS will invest up to £30 million on health services for people sleeping rough from 2019/20.

Sleeping Rough

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of emergency cold weather accommodation for rough sleepers.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: In periods of severe weather, Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is triggered and local authorities work closely with charities to provide basic emergency accommodation to minimise the risk of harm to individuals who are sleeping rough. Local authorities take a common sense approach to activating SWEP, which may be triggered by extreme cold, heavy rain, high winds or extreme heat.We recognise the additional challenges that cold weather poses for local authorities in terms of rough sleeping. On 31 October 2018, we launched the Cold Weather Fund, of up to £5 million, for all local authorities to provide a robust, local response to support rough sleepers off the streets prior to the impending winter period. Over 160 local authorities were granted funding under this scheme and funding was made available for over 1,000 additional bed spaces.The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review period. In its first year, the Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what materials the term filler material was intended to apply to when that term was added to the 2006 Edition of Approved Document Part B Volume 2.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the term filler material was added to the 2006 Edition of Approved Document Part B Volume 2, how his Department communicated to stakeholders that it must be understood as covering the core of Aluminium Composite Material cladding.

Kit Malthouse: Holding answer received on 08 April 2019



The term filler was included for the first time in the 2006 edition of Approved Document B, first published in 2006. It is a matter for the person responsible for the work and the building control body to consider if the requirements of the regulations have been met. The Department would have held meetings with industry at the time to discuss the new Approved Document B guidance in general. This Government’s view is that set out in the Building Control Alliance technical guidance note 18 which set out that the provisions in paragraph 12.7 relating to limited combustibility, particularly when read in the context of the guidance paragraph 12.5, apply to the whole cladding system other than components specifically excluded, as set out in paragraph 12.7.

Housing: Construction

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local planning authorities on the proximity of residential dwellings to areas zoned for industrial use.

Kit Malthouse: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the high-level issues that local planning authorities should consider when preparing plans and making decisions on planning applications. This includes development being appropriate for its location, taking into account matters such as pollution and the scope to mitigate such effects.

Local Government: Land

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on delegated authority levels for land acquisitions and disposals in relation to the granting of leases between local authorities and third parties.

Kit Malthouse: The delegation of authority between elected members and officers is a matter for local authorities in exercising their functions. The Government has not issued any guidance on this matter in relation to land acquisitions and disposals.

Housing: Construction

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what statutory requirements are placed on local authorities to ensure (a) education, (b) health, (c) highways and (d) retail and leisure facilities and infrastructure is adequate prior to approving new housing developments.

Kit Malthouse: The revised National Planning Policy Framework requires local authorities to set clear policy requirements for infrastructure through plans. These policies should be informed by evidence on infrastructure need and cost and viability assessments. At an early stage in the plan-making process, authorities will need to work alongside infrastructure providers to identify infrastructure requirements, including for education, health, highways and retail and leisure, and the opportunities for addressing these.Local planning authorities use the Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 planning obligations to require developers to contribute towards the provision and maintenance of required infrastructure as a result of new housing developments.

Ministry of Defence

Explosives

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the UK did not sign the October 2018 United Nations General Assembly Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.

Mark Lancaster: The use of lethal force in populated areas, as elsewhere, is governed by relevant international law - in particular, International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Our targeting policy and practice is entirely consistent with our obligations under UK and international law and we will continue to operate in accordance with its principles. The UK declined to sign the October 2018 United Nations First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas because its call for a binding political declaration risks undermining the primacy of IHL and imposing impracticable standards and expectations on military commanders.

Warships: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans for the concept and development phase for the two new littoral strike vessels to be concluded.

Stuart Andrew: The Develop phase (previously known as Concept and Development) for the Littoral Strike Ship will be concluded later this year.

Animal Experiments

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion 2113 entitled Use of animals for warfare experiments.

Stuart Andrew: Animal experiments at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down are conducted under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (ASPA) 1986 and are licensed by the Home Office. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not conduct animal experiments for the development or testing of offensive weapons, and the Home Office does not grant licences for these purposes. Dstl fully complies with the ASPA.Animals are used in experiments for the development of new vaccines, treatments or medical procedures - results of the research using animals at Dstl Porton Down will not only save the lives of UK service personnel but can also benefit civilians. It is MOD policy that all medical products for use by service personnel are licensed in the same way as any other pharmaceutical drug. Dstl's remit to provide safe and effective countermeasures requires some testing in animals in order to meet regulatory requirements.Dstl Porton Down currently uses less than half of one per cent of the total number of animals used in experimentation in the UK, and works to the animal welfare standards set out in the Guidance on the Operation of the ASPA, and the Code of Practice for the housing and care of animals bred, supplied or used for scientific purposes. Dstl has an active programme to minimise the use of animals in experiments, in accordance with the principles of the 3Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement).It is not normal practice for the Government to respond to Early Day Motions unless an MP has secured a debate on the motion.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to tackle the increase in sexual offences in the armed forces.

Gavin Williamson: The Ministry of Defence and our Armed Forces are absolutely clear there is no place for sexual offending. We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our Service personnel. Inappropriate behaviour is downright unacceptable and it stands in stark contrast with everything the Armed Forces represent. Anyone found to have committed a sexual offence will be dealt with appropriately and will face the full force of the law. The Armed Forces are committed to addressing the issue of sexual harassment and sexual assault through a range of actions, including awareness campaigns and training presentations around sexual consent. To make sure that all inappropriate behaviour, including sexual assault, is tackled across the Services a report has been launched which will be led by Air Marshal Michael Wigston. The objectives of the Report are threefold: to understand the current evidence regarding inappropriate behaviour across the services; to make recommendations on what can be done to ensure and reassure, the Armed Forces are an inclusive and modern employer; and, to identify areas for further action, including potential improvements to controls, processes or policy. We recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report a sexual offence. Personnel who come forward can have full confidence that all allegations are thoroughly investigated; Commanding Officers must always refer any allegation of rape and sexual assault, or any other offence which may have a sexual element, to the Service Police.

Military Exercises

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what notices his Department issues to civilian transport operators on potential interruptions to schedules as a result of military training exercises; how many notices were issued in each of the last five years; and what the locations were in relation to those notices.

Mark Lancaster: The information on how many notices were issued and their locations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Notice to Mariners can be found on The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office website at the following link: https://www.ukho.gov.uk/nmwebsearch/. The Army works in conjunction with Highways England to ensure that traffic disruption caused by military activity is kept to a minimum. If members of the public wish to check their route to identify any traffic disruptions they can do so via Traffic England: http://www.trafficengland.com, Traffic Scotland: http://www.trafficscotland.org or Traffic Wales: https://traffic.wales/ Notice to Airmen procedures are well established and details can be found on the Civil Aviation Authority website at the following link: http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=166&Itemid=4.html.  It should be noted that a user name and password is required to allow access.The Defence Infrastructure Organisation regularly put out newsletters and guidance on when exercises are taking place, and when the public can and cannot access the training estate. these can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/search/advanced?group=guidance_and_regulation&page=1&topic=%2Fdefence%2Fdefence-armed-forces-ministry-of-defence-estate-public-access

Ministry of Defence: Ministers

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-disclosure agreements have been entered into by his Department in each of the last five years in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in his Department.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Having searched through our records, there is no evidence of non-disclosure agreements being entered into by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in each of the last five years.

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the CSSF Annual Review in respect of the  (a) Sudan Improving International Standards in the Defence Sector programme, (b) Iraq CSSF security and justice programme and (c) North East (NE) Nigeria security and conflict and stabilisation programme.

Mark Lancaster: As part of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Annual Review process, the Ministry of Defence routinely looks at how it can implement the recommendations made against its programmes. In relation to the UK Ministry of Defence's work with both the Iraqi Ministry of Defence and the Kurdish Regional Government, we keep our programme of co-operation under review, to ensure that the UK's activity is targeted where it will achieve the best outcomes and that our advisers in-country have clear objectives. A decision was taken to cease CSSF funding for the Sudan Improving International Standards in the Defence Sector programme for financial year (FY) 2019-20. We are currently conducting an in-depth review of the North East Nigeria Security, Conflict and Stabilisation programme which will seek to incorporate the review's recommendations and implement key changes for FY 2019-20.

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mitigation of human rights risks is being applied with regard to the (a) Sudan Improving International Standards in the Defence Sector programme, (b) Iraq CSSF security and justice programme and (c) North East (NE) Nigeria security and conflict and stabilisation programme.

Mark Lancaster: The Overseas Security and Justice Assessment (OSJA) process ensures that risks to human rights are actively managed and are under constant review. Our training always includes a focus on the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law.The listed programmes have all undergone full assessments of the risk they pose in relation to human rights, in line with the OSJA process.

Department for Work and Pensions

Children: Maintenance

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether section 69A of the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 defines cash as an asset which can be factored into a paying parent's assessment.

Will Quince: Section 69A of the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 specifies money, whether deposited or in cash, should be treated as an asset for the purposes of calculating notional income. The maintenance liability will then be adjusted where a notional annual income of £2,500 or more has been identified.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Maintenance Service's Financial Investigations Unit has the power in cases where the paying parent's assets and/ or income are outside the UK to investigate foreign (a) tax returns and (b) bank accounts.

Will Quince: The Child Maintenance Service Financial Investigations Unit in either scenario (a) or (b) has no powers where paying parents are outside of the UK. In terms of tax returns we do ask Paying Parents that we believe are overseas for their tax status and details of tax payments. The Department has no powers to compel if a response is not received. However, rigorous checks are undertaken to confirm that the Paying Parent is not resident in the UK.

Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available to individuals on universal credit who are able to afford accommodation in private sector but are unable to find landlords who will rent to them.

Will Quince: We know that there are people who have experienced difficulties when trying to rent a property whilst claiming benefit. That is why the Government recently announced its intention to work with the sector to ensure those in receipt of housing support are able to access properties. This work has already begun and we have seen meaningful change from key market players to ensure tenants in receipt of housing support can find the properties they need. In addition, the Government has awarded nearly £20m to local authorities through the Private Rented Sector Access Fund to help vulnerable people access and sustain tenancies in the private rented sector.

Universal Credit

Laura Pidcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2019 to 228698, when electronic access will be provided to a claimant in order for them to access their previous universal credit claim without the need for a claimant to ask a case manager for information.

Alok Sharma: The Department has no plans, at present, to provide claimants with direct access to their previous claims.A key reason a claimant cannot access a previous claim is that it could contain information the Department has an obligation to protect. This could include, for example, information about a previous partner. However, if a claimant, who has had a previous claim closed, needs to access their own information contained in previous statements or their journal, a case manager can access this information on their behalf and provide them with any information they might require.

Universal Credit: EEA Nationals and EU Nationals

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) non-UK EU and (b) EEA nationals made a (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful claim for universal credit in each month in the last 12 months.

Alok Sharma: The Information requested about successful and (ii) unsuccessful claim for universal credit in each month in the last 12 months is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Pensions: Consumer Information

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of delivering the online pensions dashboard; and what the timescale is for that delivery.

Guy Opperman: Pensions dashboards are a digital democratiser – they will open up pensions to millions - providing an easy-to-access online view of a saver's pensions. Government’s work on dashboards builds upon the Pensions Dashboard Prototype Project, managed by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) with the involvement of 17 pensions firms. We believe that, in the long term, as they develop to become more sophisticated, pensions dashboards could, as a minimum and as set out in our consultation response, help to achieve the following objectives: - increase individual awareness,- build individual control,- increase engagement,- support the guidance process,- reconnect individuals with lost pension pots- and enable more informed user choices. A key priority for 2019 is for the Money and Pensions Service to establish the industry delivery group, and we also expect to see industry creating and testing dashboards this year. Government is committed to compelling pension schemes to make consumers’ data available to them through their chosen dashboard. Schemes need to start getting ready now, particularly in terms of preparing data. Pension schemes should be ready to provide consumer’s information to them via dashboards within a three to four years window. A copy of the consultation with details on next steps, legislation and timelines can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pensions-dashboards-feasibility-report-and-consultation There is a role for government in facilitating industry's delivery of dashboards which work for consumers and put people in control of their data. That’s why, at the Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor allocated £3.35 million worth of funding for 2019/20 to support this endeavour. In addition, the government’s response to the consultation on pensions dashboards stated that the Money and Pensions Service will draw on the Financial Services Levy and the General Levy on pension schemes to fund the non-commercial dashboard and the dashboard architecture. This levy is paid for by pension schemes. Additionally, there have been associated usual staff running costs for the department relating to the development of the policy.

Redundancy

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to prepare for potential jobs losses in the event the UK leaves the EU without a negotiated withdrawal agreement.

Alok Sharma: The Government’s priority remains securing a deal to leave the EU. We have more people in work than ever before, with wages continuing to grow. As you would expect, DWP continues to ensure that there are contingency plans so we can provide our vital services to those who need them. For those who need it, we offer a wide range of tailored support through Jobcentres including our Rapid Response Service which provides support to employees and employers where there is a risk of large scale redundancies.

Low Incomes

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional funding her Department plans to provide to support people on low wages and insecure income in the event of increases to food prices and living costs as a result of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Alok Sharma: The Government’s priority remains securing a deal to leave the EU. We have more people in work than ever before, with wages continuing to grow. DWP has contingency plans to ensure we can continue to provide our vital services to those who need them. The Department already has a number of mechanisms in place to provide additional support to those who need it. New claimants to Universal Credit can apply for an advance if they need financial support until the first regular payment of Universal Credit is made. Furthermore, we have recently implemented a £1000 increase in Work Allowance rates for some of the most vulnerable low paid working families. It will increase the amount that families can earn before Universal Credit is tapered away, providing 2.4 million working families with an extra £630 a year.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Meat: Export Duties

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on tariffs for UK meat exports.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Under the deal negotiated between the UK and the EU, there would be no tariffs or quotas on UK exports of meat to the EU, either during the implementation period or in the context of the future economic partnership to be negotiated. By contrast, we expect that the EU’s most favoured nation (MFN) tariff regime would apply to UK exports in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, and there is no indication that the EU would modify its tariff regime as a result of our departure. As the Secretary of State said at the NFU conference in January, nobody can be blithe or blasé about the real impact on food producers of leaving without a deal.

Agriculture: Yorkshire and the Humber

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to support farming in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government has pledged to continue to support farmers financially by committing the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of this Parliament, expected in 2022. This includes all funding provided for farm support under both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 of the current Common Agricultural Policy. We are working across Government to develop future funding arrangements. Our plans for farming and for supporting farmers as the UK leaves the EU are underpinned by the Agriculture Bill. The Bill is a central part of the Government’s programme of legislation to deliver as smooth a departure as possible and achieve a green withdrawal from the EU. At the heart of our new policy in England will be a system that pays public money for public goods, rewarding farmers such as those in Yorkshire and Humber for creating habitats for wildlife while improving air and water quality.

Waste Disposal

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve England’s waste disposal system; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Our overarching ambition is to manage residual waste in a way that maximises its value as a resource whilst minimising its environmental impact. We are committed to eliminating avoidable waste by 2050. In December 2018, we published our Resources and Waste Strategy which explains how we will overhaul current waste management systems. Building on the commitments in the Strategy, we have published three consultations: - On making producers pay the full cost of dealing with packaging waste (Reforming the Packaging Producer Responsibility System)- On a consistent set of materials to be collected across England from households and businesses for recycling (Consultation on consistency in household and business recycling collections in England)- On bringing in a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks cans and bottles (Consultation on Introducing a DRS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland). These consultations are open until 13 May.

Food: Waste

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce food waste; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The UK is an international leader in tackling food waste, and there has been a reduction in total food waste of 14% per person in the UK between 2007 and 2015 (post farm-gate), but there is more to be done. The Government recently launched its Resources and Waste Strategy which sets out a new approach to address food waste from farm to fork. Last autumn, the Secretary of State announced a new pilot scheme to reduce food waste, supported by a £15 million fund. The first £5 million round of funding is currently being allocated to food redistribution organisations. The Government has appointed Ben Elliot as the food waste champion who will work with business leaders to ensure that the issue of food waste and surplus remains at the top of their agendas. The strategy also sets out how the Government will consult on annual reporting of food surplus and waste by food businesses and support cross sector collaboration through the Courtauld 2025 agreement.

Farmers

Trudy Harrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the prospects of UK farmers as a result of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As part of our preparations to leave the EU, we have carried out a rigorous programme of analytical work that has assessed the impact of various EU withdrawal scenarios on the UK farming sector. Part of that programme has included modelling work co-funded between the four UK agricultural departments. In August 2017 FAPRI-UK published this analysis in the report “Impacts of Alternative post-brexit trade agreements on UK agriculture: sector analyses using the FAPRI-UK model”. It considers the impact of different trading scenarios on many farming commodity sectors. The full report is available on Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute website – https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/publications/FAPRI-UK%20Brexit%20Report%20-%20FINAL%20Clean.pdf In addition, the Evidence and Analysis Paper, which accompanied the publication of the Agriculture Bill, provides analysis of the various ways farmers are likely to be affected by the movement from the area-based payments of the Common Agricultural Policy to being rewarded for the public goods they produce under Environmental Land Management (ELM). Further information can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-future-for-food-farming-and-the-environment-policy-statement-2018 This analysis only applies to England, as agricultural policy in the UK is devolved, and it is for each administration to decide its approach and what measures it should adopt according to its evaluation of the situation which pertains to its area. For details relating to the rest of the UK, please contact the relevant devolved administration.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2019 to Question 213911 on bovine tuberculosis: disease control, for what reason that correction was issued; and what the figures referred to in the original answer to that question.

Mr Robert Goodwill: A revised answer was issued because the original question asked about one specific cull area in Dorset, whereas the original answer provided data for the entire county of Dorset.

Air Pollution: Germany

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has reviewed the effectiveness of the German Federal Immission Control Act; and whether he has any plans to implement similar such legislation in the UK.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: No, the Government has not reviewed the effectiveness of the German Federal Immission Control Act. The UK introduced a similar integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water and land with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as well as the concept of Best Available Techniques. These approaches have subsequently been adopted and applied across the EU through the Industrial Emissions Directive, which sets challenging industry standards for the most polluting industries.

Agriculture: Carbon Emissions

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero emissions target for farming.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: There is no record of the Secretary of State having discussions with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero target for farming.In October 2018, Government commissioned advice on our long-term targets from our independent advisers, the Committee on Climate Change, including on the setting of a net zero target. We will consider their evidence-based advice carefully when it is received.

Cultural Heritage: Environment Protection

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the exclusion of heritage from the Environment Bill.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Ministers and officials have regular meetings and discussions with colleagues from across Whitehall concerning the forthcoming Environment Bill. Heritage is not specifically excluded from the draft Environment Bill. The only policy areas explicitly and completely excluded from the definition of environmental law are listed in the draft Bill. Provisions of legislation on cultural heritage would fall under the definition if they are mainly concerned with one of the matters listed in relation to the natural environment. The definition of environmental law does not affect the content of the 25 Year Environment Plan. The framework for environmental principles to be established by the Environment Bill will also apply to policy on cultural heritage. The Environment Bill will require Government to have a plan for improving the natural environment which will be subject to monitoring, annual reporting, and regular review and revision. The existing 25 Year Environment Plan, which will become the first such statutory plan, recognises the close relationship between heritage and the natural environment and it is expected that this will continue to be reflected in future revisions.

Soil: Environment Protection

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including soil health in the indicator frameworks for environmental progress and in legally binding future targets.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Our recent consultation on an indicator framework for measuring progress against the 25 Year Environment Plan proposed inclusion of an indicator of healthy soils. The consultation document proposed measurements of soil properties which could be included in this indicator, however the full specification of this indicator will be developed when Defra research into innovative monitoring for soils completes at the end of 2019. We are considering the consultation responses as well as the outputs from a workshop of soil stakeholders. We will be publishing our updated, finalised indicator framework alongside the 25 Year Environment Plan annual review in due course. In December 2018, the Government confirmed that it was exploring options for including cross-cutting targets for environmental improvement as part of the broader governance framework being established through the Environment Bill. We would expect any targets to contribute to implementing the 25 Year Environment Plan goals.

Climate Change: Finance

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of funding for natural climate solutions in relation to natural carbon sequestration.

David Rutley: The Government recognises the importance of nature-based carbon sequestration and our ambitious 25 Year Environment Plan committed to leave the environment in a better state than we found it. Mitigating and adapting to climate change is essential if we are to meet this goal and the Government is taking action to deliver on this. Tree planting is one of the main contributors to nature-based carbon sequestration and the Government supports this in a number of ways, including the manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees by 2022. We also have a long term aspiration to increase woodland cover from 10% to 12%. Additionally, in the Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced £50 million to help support the planting of new woodlands through the Woodland Carbon Guarantee. In relation to soil carbon sequestration and protection of existing soil carbon stores, our focus is on peatland restoration, both through Government funding and supporting private sector initiatives. For example, we are currently spending £10 million on four large scale peatland restoration projects across England. Under the new Environmental Land Management Scheme we will pay land managers public money for public goods, which includes mitigation of climate change. This could be delivered through land managers sequestering carbon by, for example, peatland restoration and tree planting.

Seas and Oceans: Wind Power

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of consented offshore wind on seabirds, marine mammals and other coastal wildlife.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Consent is required from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to construct, extend or operate any offshore generating stations with a generating capacity of between 1 and 100 megawatts (MW). Stations which would generate more than 100MW are classed as nationally significant infrastructure projects and require a development consent order granted by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Some electricity generating works may be subject to regulation under the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (as amended) and require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be submitted to the MMO alongside the main application. EIAs are required to include a description of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment, including any effects on seabirds, marine mammals and other coastal wildlife. In addition, offshore wind farms are required to have pre and post consent monitoring plans which are managed by the MMO. For example, a Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan (MMMP) lists the appropriate mitigation measures that should be utilised during offshore activities that are likely to produce underwater noise and vibration levels capable of potentially causing injury and disturbance to marine mammals. Any environmental assessment, including EIAs and MMMPs, submitted as part of any application are available online via the Planning Inspectorate’s national register of applications and the MMO’s public register.

Fracking

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to ensure that the Government’s fracking proposals do not disrupt local wildlife and biodiversity.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Statutory consultees including Natural England (NE) and the Environment Agency (EA) are consulted by the relevant Mineral Planning Authority (MPA) when a planning application for hydraulic fracturing development is received. NE is consulted if the proposed development is likely to affect a protected site (Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar Wetland, or a potential SPA, possible SAC or a proposed Ramsar Wetland). NE has published ‘Impact Risk Zones’ which can be used to check if the planning proposal relates to land on or near a protected site. In addition MPAs will assess impacts on locally protected sites. MPAs use NE’s standing advice for protected species when reviewing planning applications and will contact NE if the matter is not covered by the advice. NE may need to issue European Protected Species Licences in certain circumstances. Developers are also encouraged to contact NE at pre-application stages to help ensure that their applications fully take account of potential impacts and that measures are put in place to avoid or mitigate those impacts as well as maximising opportunities for biodiversity. In applying to the EA for environmental permits, operators are also required to consider the effect that their activity may have on protected sites, habitats and species. Where any sites of heritage and nature conservation, or protected species and habitats are identified, they may need to consult other bodies such as NE and can enforce permit conditions to protect habitats.

Fire Prevention

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information he has received from the England and Wales Wildlife Forum on the effectiveness of the Fire Safety Index.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Natural England are currently working with the Met Office and the National Parks to objectively review the operation of the Fire Severity Index (FSI), based on the relevant science. We have had contact with the England and Wales Wildfire Forum and they will be invited to provide information on the effectiveness of the FSI during the on-going stakeholder engagement process.

Fires

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has received from the Uplands Management Group on wildfire management plans.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Uplands Management Group (UMG) were commissioned by Defra to develop guidance on Wildfire Management Plans. We have seen initial representations during this process and await finalised guidance from the Group.

Home Office

Radicalism

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of whether there are any links between the UK organisation Generation Identity and the Identitäre Bewegung Österreichs.

Victoria Atkins: We continuously develop our understanding of the threat from Right Wing extremism across the UK and internationally so that we can respond to it appropriately.

Offences against Children

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support is available from (a) the police and (b) other organisations to victims of grooming and sexual exploitation following (i) Operation Optic in Newcastle and (ii) other examples of failed prosecutions.

Mr Nick Hurd: Following Operation Optic agencies including Northumbria Police committed to a multi-agency action plan to ensure safeguarding and ongoing support to victims, including the provision of dedicated support officers and the offer of bespoke counselling.The Government wants to ensure that all victims of sexual abuse and exploitation get the support they need, whether they are a child or an adult. We provide funding for victim support services across the country, which victims can access throughout their lifetime, whether they are involved in a criminal justice process or not.In 2018/19, the Ministry of Justice allocated almost £1.7m to Northumbria PCC to provide support to victims in the area, including £116K specifically for services supporting victims of child sexual abuse. Additionally, the Ministry of Justice directly allocated around £272,600 to four services in Northumbria providing specialist support to victims of sexual violence.

Hezbollah

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to tackle sources of financial assistance to Hezbollah in the UK.

Mr Ben Wallace: The UK has a strong reputation for tackling terrorist financing and we are a key player in international efforts to strengthen the global response to terrorist financing. This was demonstrated in the UK’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation Report published in December 2018, which gave the UK the highest possible rating on how it tackles terrorist financing.Our approach to countering terrorist finance is multifaceted and we have a range of disruptive tools and capabilities to detect, prevent and disrupt the movement of terrorist finance. We also work very closely with our international partners and financial institutions here in the UK, to exchange and analyse information to better detect, prevent and disrupt the movement of terrorist funds.The investigation and prosecution of offences relating to proscribed organisations is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Home Office: Ministers

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-disclosure agreements have been entered into by his Department in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in his Department in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: We have checked our records and confirm that we have no record of an NDA entered into by the Home Office in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Home Office Minister in the last 5 years.

Intelligence Services and Police

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) security and policing in the UK and (b) the ability of British security services to work with their European counterparts.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government published ‘EU Exit: Assessment of the Security Partnership’ (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759760/28_November_EU_Exit_-_Assessment_of_the_security_partnership__2_.pdf) on 28 November 2018.This assessed the potential impacts of the UK leaving the EU, comparing the Future UK-EU Security Partnership (as set out in the Political Declara-tion) against a no deal scenario. In a deal scenario, the agreement reached with the EU would provide for an implementation period during which we’d continue to use all the EU security tools we use now. For the future relationship, the Future Security Partnership would enable strong operational capabilities to tackle serious crime and terrorism: swift and effective data exchange; fast-track surrender arrangements; and continued close cooperation with Europol and Eurojust.In a no deal scenario, the UK would no longer be able to cooperate with the EU using EU law enforcement and criminal justice mechanisms. The Home Office has therefore coordinated the preparation of robust contingency plans, to ensure that we can transition our cooperation with European partners and continue to work together through alternative channels, should that be required. Broadly speaking, this would mean making more use of Interpol, Council of Europe Conventions and bilateral channels. Whilst these alternatives are not like-for-like replacements, they are largely tried and tested mechanisms which the UK already uses to cooperate with many non-EU countries. Our overriding objective, however, remains to secure a deal that is in the interests of both the UK and the EU.Much of our national security cooperation with our European partners takes place outside EU structures and so is not dependent on our membership of the EU.

Gangmasters

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful prosecutions the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority has brought in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority publishes annual data on the number of convictions for offences under the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004 on its website. Information on convictions over the last five years can be found at: https://www.gla.gov.uk/our-impact/conviction-totals/

Offenders: Deportation

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of foreign national offenders have successfully appealed a deportation order under Article (a) 3, (b) 6 and (c) 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in each year since 2010.

Caroline Nokes: Information on how many and what proportion of foreign national offenders have successfully appealed a deportation order under Article (a) 3, (b) 6 and (c) 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in each year since 2010 is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.Data on deportation appeal outcomes is published by HM Courts and Tribunals Service on a quarterly basis. A link to the latest published statistics is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2018. The data in table FIA_3 of the Main Tables (October to December 2018) is the closest match to the requested information.

Passports: EU Countries

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that people are aware of how much time they need to have left on their passports in order to travel to the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office has a duty to inform citizens and businesses about how leaving the EU might affect them, and to advise on the steps they may need to take to prepare for EU Exit.Alongside business as usual operational communications, HM Passport Office (HMPO), working with Home Office, is part of the Cabinet Office-led Public Information Campaign to help achieve this. This includes campaign activity focused on passport renewal and EU citizens’ rights. This campaign includes print, out of home and TV advertising.On 8th January 2019 a separate passport marketing campaign launched as part of the wider cross-government EU Exit Public Information Campaign. The passport-specific activity, via social media and digital advertising, encourages customers who are planning to travel to Europe post-EU Exit to check the validity of their passport using the online checker. To date 2.3 million users have checked their passport validity.To support this marketing activity, HMPO has been working with other government departments and stakeholders from across the travel industry, asking them to share messages on their own customer channels. This work included the distribution of a toolkit including promotional materials in October 2018.

Immigrants: Croydon

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people living in (a) Croydon North constituency and (b) the London borough of Croydon are designated as having no recourse to public funds.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect on the well-being of children of their parents being subject to no recourse to public funds.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British children living in (a) Croydon North constituency and (b) the London Borough of Croydon are looked after by parents who are designated as having no recourse to public funds.

Caroline Nokes: The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition is applied to the leave of most migrants in the UK as a legitimate means of maintaining and protecting our economic resources.In those cases where leave has been, or is being, granted for family or private life reasons the NRPF condition can be lifted on application to the Home Office if that is necessary to meet the welfare needs of children. In addition, immigration legislation specifically provides for children to remain eligible for support from a local authority under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, and an assessment of welfare needs will be part of providing that support.Information about NRPF is held on individual case files for applications, which do not indicate whether an individual is part of the UK’s resident population. Wider population data, such as that requested in relation to the London Borough of Croydon, and that requested for all households nationally, is not held by the Home Office.

Passports: EU Countries

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the guidance is on time left on passports for travel to the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: Our guidance relating to the changes to the rules for travel to Europe is in the event that the UK leaves the European Union without a deal. If the UK leaves the EU with no deal we advise that:1. You should have at least 6 months left on your passport from your date of arrival. This applies to adult and child passports2. If you renewed a passport before it expired, up to 9 extra months may have been added to your new passport’s expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months that should be remaining for travel to most countries in Europe.

Nationality: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that Irish citizens born in Northern Ireland are able to continue to exercise their EU rights after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of those steps with the identity rights guaranteed to Irish citizens by the Belfast Agreement.

Caroline Nokes: Upholding the Belfast Agreement and its successors in all their parts, including the Agreement's citizenship and identity provisions, has been central to the Government’s approach to the Exit negotiations. The Withdrawal Agreement with the EU recognises that the people of Northern Ireland who are Irish – and thus EU – citizens will continue to have access to rights, opportunities and benefits that come with EU citizenship. We are committed to working with our EU partners to put in place arrangements that will allow Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland to enjoy the EU rights available to them.

EU Nationals: Republic of Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to protect the rights of frontier workers who are citizens of EU countries but who are not Irish or UK citizens, who live in Ireland but travel to work in Northern Ireland each day; and if he will publish guidance on their rights in the event the UK leaves the EU (a) with a deal and (b) without a deal.

Caroline Nokes: Whether the UK leaves the EU with or without a deal, the UK has committed to protect the position of EEA citizens (including Swiss citizens) who, at the specified date, work in the UK but live in another country (‘frontier workers’). This includes EEA citizens who live in Ireland and work in Northern Ireland.The draft Withdrawal Agreement with the EU protects the rights of those who are frontier workers at the end of the implementation period, for as long as they continue to be frontier workers in the host state. After the end of the implementation period, they will be subject to a requirement to obtain a document to evidence their right to enter and work in the UK as a frontier worker, in line with Article 26 of the draft Withdrawal Agreement.If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, we will protect the position of those who are frontier workers at exit date. Until free movement is ended by the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, they will be able to enter the UK as now. Once free movement ends, they will be able to obtain a separate UK immigration status which will allow them to continue frontier working in the UK after exit.Further information about how frontier workers can apply for a frontier worker document in a deal scenario, or for frontier worker status in a no-deal scenario, will be published in due course.In either a deal or no-deal scenario, frontier workers may be resident in the UK for sufficient periods during their work here to be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if they wish to do so. However, they are not required to do so, as they will be able to apply for a frontier worker document or status if they wish to continue working in the UK but living in another country

Refugees: Children

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate refugee family reunion for unaccompanied child refugees.

Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the cost to local authorities of unaccompanied refugee children being unable to sponsor their parents to join them under part 11 of UK immigration rules.

Caroline Nokes: There is currently no provision in the Immigration Rules for children with refugee status in the UK to sponsor family members to join them. Allowing children to sponsor parents would create further incentives for more children to be encouraged, or even forced, to leave their family and risk hazardous journeys to the UK to sponsor relatives. This plays into the hands of criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people and goes against our safeguarding responsibilities.The Government believes the best interests of children are met by remaining with their families, claiming asylum in the first safe country they reach and relying on resettlement schemes to travel safely.To help them care for unaccompanied asylum seeking children, the Government provides local authorities with £41,000 per year for those under 16 and £33,000 per year for 16 and 17 year olds. The Home Office is currently reviewing funding arrangements. This is looking at a whole range of issues relating to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in care, not just funding, so it is right that they take time to look at this complex issue properly.

Stop and Search: Greater London

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of section 60 stops and searches in London between the Mayor of London's announcement of an intended increase in January 2018 and the latest quarter for which figures are available.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not collect data on stop and searches from police forces on a quarterly basis and, therefore, we cannot assess trends in the use of Section 60 stop and search in London between January 2018 and April 2019.The Home Office is, however, able to assess trends in the use of Section 60 stop and search over annual reporting periods.The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on stop and searches conducted by each police force in England and Wales annually. The most recent data was published in October 2018 for the year ending March 2019 as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales’ statisti-cal bulletin, which can be accessed here:www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-walesIn the year ending March 2018, police in England and Wales carried out 2,501 stop and searches under section 60.This is quadruple the number of searches under this power in the year ending March 2017 (from 631 to 2,501) but follows a downward trend since a peak of around 150,000 searches in the year ending March 2009. The increase in the use of this power has been driven by uptake in the Metropolitan Police Service in response to high levels of serious violent crime in the capital.The next release of these statistics is due to be published in October 2019, for the year ending March 2019.

Knives: Greater London

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what change there has been in the number of  (a) deaths and (b) injuries from knife crime in London between January 2018 and the latest quarter for which figures are available.

Mr Nick Hurd: Information on the number of sharp instrument homicides recorded by the police by Police Force Area can be found in the Home Office Knife Crime Open Data Tables available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tablesThese tables also include information on the number of offences involving knives or sharp instruments for selected offences but information on how many of these offences resulted in an injury is not held by the Home Office.Tackling serious violence is a top priority for the Government and it is clear we must continue to step up the response to stop this violence. The Serious Violence Strategy sets out the Government’s approach, which depends also on a multi-agency approach across several sectors and stresses the im-portance of early intervention to tackle the root causes.

Church Commissioners

Church of England

Sir John Hayes: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church is taking to ensure the evangelical makeup of its congregations is reflected in the custom and practices of the Church's leadership.

Dame Caroline Spelman: The traditions of individuals and congregations in the Church of England is not always easily identifiable, and it is often very difficult to label individuals and congregations accordingly. However, the Church is aware of its diversity of traditions and is committed to the growth of the whole Church. A key factor in all senior appointments is the energy candidates bring to evangelism and encouraging confident Christian witness, and of course, different candidates will step into this space in different ways.The Church’s Strategic Learning Community and Senior Leadership Development programmes have been created to bring together clergy from across the church, from all traditions and backgrounds. More information about this work can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/renewal-reform/nurturing-senior-leaders However, it is worth noting that both of the current Archbishops identify as having come from an evangelical background, as well as many other diocesan bishops in the Church of England.

Northern Ireland Office

Brexit: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are required to ensure that Northern Ireland is prepared for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Karen Bradley: We want and expect to leave the EU with a negotiated agreement. As a responsible Government, at the same time we have accelerated no-deal preparations to ensure that all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland, are as prepared as possible in the event of a no-deal exit. The Northern Ireland Office and other Government Departments have been working intensively alongside the Northern Ireland Civil Service to prepare for the potential impacts of a no-deal exit for Northern Ireland. We have been clear that the unique social, political and economic circumstances of Northern Ireland must be reflected in any arrangements that would apply.

Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she will take to help people in financial hardship due to the Renewal Heat Incentive Scheme.

John Penrose: The Department for the Economy (DfE) has committed to set up a unit within the department, under independent chairmanship. This will be responsible for examining the case of every individual who has received funds from the RHI initiative and believes that they have experienced hardship. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) will also be conducting a review of the revised tariffs. That inquiry will, among other things, examine how the revised tariffs will affect the businesses they apply to. We will look carefully at the recommendations that the Committee makes.

Borders: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Chief Constable of PSNI on the border after the UK leaves the EU.

Karen Bradley: I meet regularly with the Chief Constable to discuss security issues, including aspects of EU Exit. Across Government we are working closely with operational partners on contingency planning so we can ensure the safety and security of our citizens in all scenarios.

Northern Ireland Office: Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many additional staff work in the Northern Ireland Office since 23 June 2016.

John Penrose: The number of additional staff in the Northern Ireland Office since 23 June 2016 is 52.

Nurses: Equal Pay

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the permanent secretary for health in the Northern Ireland Executive on ensuring the equalisation of pay rates for nurses in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK.

John Penrose: In November 2018, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland applied the English NHS pay settlement to Northern Ireland, representing a 3% or more uplift to staff on most pay scales.As health is devolved, nurses pay in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Department of Health.

Health Services (Cross-border Health Care and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2019 to Question 237070 on Health Services (Cross-border Health Care and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, if she will place a copy of the Department of Health for Northern Ireland legislative review in the Library.

John Penrose: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 April 2019.The correct answer should have been:

I will reply as soon as possible.  Department of Health for Northern Ireland officials completed a legislative review in August 2017 as part of Northern Ireland Civil Service’s preparations for EU exit. My officials will discuss with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland the appropriate publication of information relating to the review. EU Exit Statutory Instruments are taken through Westminster to correct inoperabilities or provide technical fixes under the powers in section 8 of the European Union Withdrawal Act 2018. In this case, the regulations were developed by the Northern Ireland Civil Service and, in the absence of a Stormont Executive, under the terms of the Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions Act, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health for Northern Ireland gave his clearance for the Health Services (Cross-Border Health Care and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on 31 January 2019, to issue to the Department of Health and Social Care for laying in Westminster.

John Penrose: I will reply as soon as possible.  Department of Health for Northern Ireland officials completed a legislative review in August 2017 as part of Northern Ireland Civil Service’s preparations for EU exit. My officials will discuss with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland the appropriate publication of information relating to the review. EU Exit Statutory Instruments are taken through Westminster to correct inoperabilities or provide technical fixes under the powers in section 8 of the European Union Withdrawal Act 2018. In this case, the regulations were developed by the Northern Ireland Civil Service and, in the absence of a Stormont Executive, under the terms of the Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions Act, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health for Northern Ireland gave his clearance for the Health Services (Cross-Border Health Care and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on 31 January 2019, to issue to the Department of Health and Social Care for laying in Westminster.

Licensing Laws: Northern Ireland

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2019 to Question 237725 on Alcoholic Drinks: Northern Ireland, whether, in the event of the Department for Communities proposing a change to liquor licensing legislation following the public consultation on the sale and supply of alcoholic drinks at special events, she will bring forward legislative proposals on that matter in the absence of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

John Penrose: This is a devolved matter. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will carefully consider the outcome of the consultation.

Legislative Consent Motions: Northern Ireland

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish the titles of the legislative consent motions that have been sent to Departments in Northern Ireland for consent since December 2018.

John Penrose: At present, without a Northern Ireland Executive in place, there is no way to seek legislative consent.

Statutory Instruments: Northern Ireland

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish the titles of the statutory instruments that have effect in Northern Ireland which have been debated in the House; and to which Northern Ireland Government Office each such Statutory Instrument was referred since December 2018.

John Penrose: Details of statutory instruments debated in the House and the territorial extent are published on the UK Parliament website - https://beta.parliament.uk/work-packages.

Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what role Ofgem is currently playing in monitoring the renewable heat incentive scheme in Northern Ireland; and if she will make an assessment of the level of Ofgem's presence in Northern Ireland.

John Penrose: Ofgem is primarily responsible for administering the RHI Scheme on a day-to-day basis on behalf of the Department for the Economy. Ofgem’s involvement is in accordance with the Energy Act 2011.

Belfast Agreement: Anniversaries

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what events her Department is organising to mark the 21 anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement on 10 April 1998; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: The Northern Ireland Office is not organising any official events to mark the 21st anniversary of the Belfast Agreement. The hon Lady will recall that a number of events were held last year for the 20th anniversary of the Agreement in which the UK Government participated or hosted. This Government remains fully committed to the 1998 Agreement and its successors. It is the bedrock of the huge progress that has been made in Northern Ireland over the past 21 years and we will continue to work for its full implementation, including restoration of the devolved and other institutions at the earliest opportunity.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Members

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to initiate a further review of the salaries being paid to Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Karen Bradley: A second reduction to MLA salaries took effect in January 2019, bringing the total reduction to 27.5%. While the Assembly is not sitting, I recognise that MLAs continue to be active in constituency work. The reduction that has been implemented reflects the work MLAs have been doing in the current period and is in line with the recommendations of former Assembly clerk and chief executive Trevor Reaney. In the event of continued delay in the formation of an Executive I will consider the case for further reductions to MLA pay.

Treasury

Money: Older People

Scott Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on elderly people of decreased access to hard currency.

Robert Jenrick: At Spring Statement 2018, the Government held a call for evidence to better understand the role of cash and digital payments in the new economy. We will publish a summary of responses to this document in due course which, along with the recent Access to Cash review, will add to the body of evidence highlighting the continued importance of cash. The Government recognises the continued importance of cash, especially for more vulnerable members of society and the elderly. The Government will take steps to safeguard access to cash for those who need it, while continuing to support digital payment methods. The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator is closely monitoring developments within ATM provision. It has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network in the UK.

Married People: Tax Allowances

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of Married Tax Allowance.

Mel Stride: Marriage Allowance was introduced in April 2015, to recognise the importance of marriage in the tax system and support those on low incomes by helping them keep more of the money they earn. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ran a number of advertising campaigns to raise awareness of the savings Marriage Allowance can bring to eligible couples. The first campaign ran between October 2015 and March 2016, and a second ran between November 2016 and March 2017. A variety of channels were used including press, radio adverts, and digital advertising. Most recently, HMRC ran a social media campaign to raise awareness of Marriage Allowance and issued a press release in February 2019. HMRC continues to promote the availability of Marriage Allowance through ongoing and targeted communications. Information on how to claim Marriage Allowance is available on the GOV.UK website and it can be claimed through the personal tax account, on GOV.UK, or by telephone to HMRC. Any couples who have yet to claim will not lose out as they have until 5 April 2020 to backdate it to 2015 where the eligibility conditions are met.

Multinational Companies: Taxation

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the implementation of measures relating to offshore receipts in respect of intangible property.

Mel Stride: The Chancellor has regular discussions with his international counterparts on matters relating to international tax policy.

Brexit

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the £4.3 billion set aside for preparations for the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal has been spent.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government is committed to ensuring all necessary preparations are made before the UK’s departure from the EU, for all scenarios, deal or no deal. HM Treasury has in total allocated over £4.2bn across government to help departments and devolved administrations prepare for Brexit. Of this, some £2.2bn has been allocated to financial years that have now past, covering 2016-17 to 2018-19. Individual departments report on all of their spending to Parliament through their annual reports and accounts, however aggregate outturn data on EU Exit spending is not available. Over £2bn of additional funding has been allocated to the current financial year, 2019-20. A full breakdown of the allocations can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS1205, laid on the 18th December (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-12-18/HCWS1205/)

Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HMRC spent on private sector debt collection agencies in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017 and (d) 2018.

Mel Stride: Information regarding payments to Integrated Debt Services Ltd, who manage the contract between HMRC and the Debt Collection Agencies contracted to act on HMRC’s behalf, is published on the GOV.UK website at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/spending-over-25-000

Treasury: Ministers

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many non-disclosure agreements have been entered into by his Department in respect of a personnel matter relating to a Minister in his Department in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: HM Treasury has not issued any non-disclosure agreements relating to a personnel matter relating to a Minister in each of the last five years.

Tax Avoidance

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March to Question 233579, how many promoters of tax avoidance have co-operated with HMRC and (a) stopped selling avoidance schemes and (b) ceased in business altogether.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2019 to Question 233579, how many promoters of tax avoidance schemes have compiled with their obligations under the DOTAS legislation.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2019 to Question 237713, how many promoters and others involved in the marketing and promotion of tax avoidance schemes HMRC has investigated in the last 18 months.

Mel Stride: HMRC uses a range of approaches to challenge promoters and others involved in the design, marketing and supply of avoidance schemes.Over the last 18 months, HMRC has been investigating over 100 promoters and others involved in the promotion and marketing of tax avoidance schemes. HMRC has been successfully engaging with promoters encouraging them to change their behaviour. So far, around 20 promoters have moved out of promoting altogether.HMRC are notified of tax avoidance schemes by promoters and others though the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS) regime. Around 30 schemes have been disclosed under DOTAS in the last 18 months.HMRC has pursued 10 businesses promoting/ marketing avoidance schemes to litigation for failure to disclose under the DOTAS regime with around 20 others deciding to disclose to avoid litigation. Of the 10 cases, 6 have been heard before a tribunal and in each of the 3 decisions received so far, all have confirmed HMRC’s view that the schemes were disclosable, with decisions awaited in a further three cases. Further cases will be litigated in the year ahead.HMRC has also made three successful complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority about misleading advertising. As a result, other avoidance promoters can’t make the same claims about other similar arrangements.

Married People: Tax Allowances

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to increase the marriage allowance.

Mel Stride: Every time the personal allowance increases, the marriage allowance automatically becomes more generous.The increase to personal allowance to £12,500 means that, from April this year, eligible couples will be able to transfer £1,250, compared to £1,060 in 2015-16.This means that in 2019-20, eligible couples can receive a tax reduction of up to £250, or £1,150 if they make a backdated claim to 2015-16.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Charities: National Lottery

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the benefits funding from the National Lottery has delivered to charities in (a) local areas and (b) Southport.

Mims Davies: The National Lottery has returned over £39 billion to good causes since 1994, funding projects in every constituency throughout the UK. The National Lottery awards grants to good causes delivered through a range of organisations, including charities, social enterprises and local grassroots groups. Below is data from the key National Lottery distributors showing the total grants awarded to good causes, including charities, in Southport since 2009/10. A high proportion of charities are based in cities and towns, but deliver activity and services to a much wider area. This means figures often don’t reflect the spread of activity and the overall offer of services and projects funded by The National Lottery within a particular constituency.   OrganisationTotal Grants Awarded to Good Causes in Southport since 2009/10The National Lottery Community Fund£5,008,940The National Lottery Heritage Fund£3,589,300Sport England£992,626Arts Council England£45,323Total£9,636,189

Cultural Heritage

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support the heritage sector.

Michael Ellis: Last December we published the Heritage Statement: One Year On which provides an update on our progress against commitments made in the Heritage Statement in 2017. These documents set out our priorities to support the heritage sector building on the strategy set out for heritage in the Culture White Paper. These documents are accessible on gov.uk. To support the heritage sector we also provide Grant-in-Aid (GIA). In 2018/19 this included £91,607,000 for Historic England, £2,604,000 for the Churches Conservation Trust and £5,574,000 for the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Likewise, over £8bn of funding has been supplied by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to around 44,000 projects from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 2018. In the last financial year this has included £757,835,822 to Church organisations, £3,004,154,443 to community and voluntary organisations and £2,622,698,437 to local authorities.

Pornography: Internet

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons the introduction of age verification for online pornography has been delayed; and if he will make a statement.

Margot James: Age verification for online pornography is a world-leading measure to protect our children from adult content which is currently far too easy to access online. The Government, and the British Board of Film Classification as the regulator, are taking the time to get the implementation of this policy right and ensure it is effective. We will announce commencement plans shortly.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2019 to Question 238396, whether all participants in the National Citizens Service are charged the maximum £50 sign-up fee.

Mims Davies: Not all participants are charged the maximum £50 sign up fee. Partial and full bursaries are available to ensure the programme is accessible to every young person who wants a place.

Broadband

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of households that will have high speed broadband by the scheduled end of this Parliament.

Margot James: The Government is introducing a broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) to meet our manifesto commitment that by 2020 everyone across the UK will have access to high speed broadband. The USO will be a minimum of 10 Megabits per second, from a designated provider, up to a reasonable cost threshold. We will keep the speed and quality parameters under review to make sure that it keeps pace with consumers' evolving needs. The proportion of households that have high speed broadband will also depend on whether occupiers of those premises choose to take advantage of the service when it is available to them. For example, Ofcom figures from its 2018 Connected Nations report, shows that whilst 98% of UK premises have access to high speed broadband, only 65% of premises actually choose to take a service that delivers it.

Television: Licensing

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the discontinuation of free TV Licenses for over 75s on (a) social isolation and (b) loneliness amongst that demographic.

Margot James: The government does not hold this information. The government agreed with the BBC at the 2015 funding settlement that responsibility for the concession will transfer to the BBC in 2020. The BBC is consulting on the future of the concession.

Attorney General

Female Genital Mutilation: Prosecutions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Attorney General, what recent discussions he has had with the CPS on the effectiveness of prosecution in cases involving female genital mutilation.

Robert Buckland: The CPS is determined to bring those responsible for Female Genital Mutilation to justice, and recently obtained the first conviction for such a case, in London. CPS prosecutors work closely with the police from the outset of these cases to address the challenges they raise, including legal questions concerning jurisdiction and expert evidence, and have assigned FGM leads for every CPS Area. Whilst prosecution alone will not end this appalling crime, this first conviction sends out a strong message that FGM is child abuse and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.

Crimes of Violence: Acids

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Attorney General, what recent discussions he has had with the CPS on the effectiveness of prosecutions in cases involving acid attacks.

Robert Buckland: The Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and I have participated in discussions on delivering the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy, including tackling acid attacks effectively. We will also both be involved with the Prime Minister’s new Serious Violence Strategy Implementation Taskforce. The CPS continues to successfully bring these horrendous crimes to justice. Where there is sufficient evidence to prosecute, there is a strong public interest in doing so.

Crimes of Violence: Young People

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Attorney General, what the role of the CPS in tackling serious violent crime amongst young people is.

Robert Buckland: On 9 April 2018, the Government published a new Serious Violence Strategy to take action to address serious violence and in particular the recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide. The Serious Violence Strategy stresses the importance of early intervention to tackle the root causes of serious violence and to provide young people with the skills and resilience to lead productive lives free from violence. The CPS is working with its cross-government partners to deliver the Strategy, and welcomes a public health prevention strategy relating to serious violence reduction.